Jacob Williams

As printed in 1905

JACOB WILLIAMS.

The name which introduces this review is one familiar to the people of eastern Iowa, and it is one which suggests to the honest man a feeling of confidence. Jacob Williams, sheriff of Des Moines county, Iowa, was born in the year 1857, in Adams county, Illinois, the son of Jacob and Margaret (Schaefer) Williams, both natives of Germany. The father came to America when about thirteen years of age. growing to manhood's estate in Quincy. Ill., where his death occurred in i8(p, followed by that of his wife in 1892, and both are there buried. To them were born twelve children, seven of whom still survive, as follows: Kate, widow of William Smith, resides in Milwaukee; Jacob, our subject; Maggie, wife of John Strauss, of Quincy, Ill.; Lizzie, wife of Barney Brink, of Kansas City; Nettie, wife of George Humphreys, of Milwaukee; Anna, wife of Eric Anderson, of St. Louis; and Emma, wife of Ed. Struby, also of St. Louis.

Passing his early years in the city of Quincy, Mr. Williams obtained his education in the public schools of that place, and on the completion of his studies, looking about for an occupation in which to engage as a means of making his own way in the world. he decided to learn the trade of cigar-making. He accordingly entered himself as an apprentice, and after serving the regulation period of three years, became a journeyman. Ambitious to secure further advantages, he came to Burlington in 1877, being for a time employed at his trade by Mr. Dehner, and also by ]\Mr. Dempsey, large manufacturers. For eight or ten years he engaged in the saloon business on North Main Street, but sold the business, and bought of Mr. George Smith a cigar store at Corse and Osborn Streets, which he continued to conduct very successfully for about five years. At the expiration of the latter period he acted for a time as manager of the Turner Hall, and in 1892 he was elected sheriff of Des Moines county, to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Muenzenmeyer, deceased. In this position he served for one year, and in 1903 he was re-elected for a term of two years.

At Burlington, in 1882, Mr. Williams wedded Miss Josephine Florang, who was born and reared in SAvitzerland, and to them have been born three sons: Andrew, who married Miss Edna Smith, resides in Galesburg, Ill., where he is at the present time employed in the freight department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; Jacob H., who is still a member of his father's household, is a cigar-maker by trade, and is employed in the Dehner factory; Clarence B., also at home, is a pupil in the public schools. The family occupies a pleasant home at Grace and Highland Avenues, erected by Mr. Williams in 1893.

Our subject is a member of the Catholic church, to whose support he is a generous contributor, and in his fraternal relations he occupies a leading position, having membership in Aerie No. 750, Fraternal Order of Eagles, of Burlington, of which he is a charter member: in Cigar-makers' Union No. 72: in the Sterbekasseverein, a German beneficiary order of Des Moines county: and in the Burlington Turnverein. He has always been an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, in whose principles he is a believe, and has for many years past occupied a very influential position in the counsels, of his party, having been for two years chairman of the city central committee of Burlington, and for four years committeeman for the first ward. He is a man of unusual ability, a fact which he has amply demonstrated since entering upon the duties of his office as sheriff, and it is scarcely necessary to say that he is endowed with a strong individuality, and manifests the most intrepid bravery when in the face of desperate situations, and a remarkable coolness and presence of mind under all circumstances. As a man among men, he holds the confidence and esteem of all who know him intimately, and the strength and loyalty of his character have made him many friends.

As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.