John J. A. Williams

As printed in 1881

JOHN J. A. WILLIAMS, farmer; P. O. New Carlisle; belonging to the family of the first settlers of Bethel Township is J. J. A. Williams, youngest son of Henry and Elizabeth Williams, mentioned in the biography of Henry Williams, of this township. He is now reckoned among the old settlers of this county, being born in 1818, the same year that Olark County was organized. He has from choice followed the occupation of farming, and is now living on the farm where he was born; the house is still standing, and in good repair. Few boys cling so closely to their childhood's home, but those that do have the satisfaction of knowing the appreciation felt by their neighbors, and also have witnessed the grand improvements made in the county since their boyhood. "The numerous lines of railroad, skirted by the magic wires that transmit the news in an instant from one end of the State to the other, have al! been built and put into active operation since his recollection, while the pretentious farmhouse takes the place of the rude log cabin, that were sparsely scattered through the woods a half century ago. J.J. A. Williams was married in 1847 to Miss Annie M. Kissinger, of York Co., Penn. Her parents, Benjamin and Margaret Kissenger, came to this township about 1833. John and his wife had seven children; those living are Mary E., the ‘wife of John Mann; Margaret A., the wife of John W. Shroyer; John F., Ida M. and Charley E. Henry C. and Ella died in infancy. The children will never know, except by the recital of the stories, of the privations of the early settlers, and in this history will be found the sketches and incidents connected with the lives, not only of the first settlers of this township, but of the pioneers of the county. Mr. Williams has been connected with the public schools, in an official capacity, for sixteen consecutive years. He enjoys an excellent reputation as a man of correct business habits, and his children may have a just pride in the record of their ancestry, who have always been noted for their integrity and excellent business qualifications.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.