Thomas C. Williams

As printed in 1910

THOMAS C. WILLIAMS.

Thomas C. Williams, deceased, was for many years identified with the farming interests of this county and was a veteran of the Civil war. Other features in his life work are equally creditable, and altogether his was an honorable record which has caused his memory to be enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. He was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, August 14, 1836, his parents being James C. and Mary (Lindsey) Williams, both of whom were natives of the Blue Grass state. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1848 removed from Kentucky to Clayton, Illinois, where he resided until his death, which occurred when he was well advanced in years. His wife had passed away some years previous. They were the parents of nine children, two sons and seven daughters, all of whom are now deceased, with the exception of the eldest daughter, Mrs. M. J. Meats, of Clayton, Illinois.

Thomas C. Williams was reared in Clayton on the old home farm, his youthful days being passed in a manner similar to that of most farm boys who faced the necessity of assisting in the work of the fields, and at the same time had the opportunity of acquiring a fair English education in the public schools. He attended the district schools of Adams county, living at home until he attained his majority, when he began providing for his own support by working as a farm hand by the month. He was thus employed for about a year or two, after which he was married. It was on the 16th of November, 1859, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret A. Lafferty, a daughter of James and Anna (Boyle) Lafferty. Mrs. Williams was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, December I, 1841. Her grandfather in the paternal line was John Lafferty, likewise a native of the Keystone state, where he spent his entire life. He married Martha McElmoyle, and they had four children. The maternal grandfather of Mrs.

Williams was Charles Boyle, a native of Scotland, who for many years made his home in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret Pomeroy, both continuing residents of Pennsylvania until called to the home beyond. Their daughter, Anna, became the wife of James Lafferty, and they were parents of Mrs. Williams. Both were natives of Pennsylvania and, coming to Illinois in the middle of the nineteenth century, settled in Adams county in 1851. There the father died at the age of fifty-one years, while the mother reached the age of seventy-two years. In their family were nine children, of whom three are now living: Margaret Ann; Amanda M., the wife of Andrew B. Lafferty, of Alma, Nebraska; and James C. Lafferty, of Danbury, Nebraska.

The eldest of the surviving members of the family is Mrs. Williams who, as stated, gave her hand in marriage to our subject in 1859. They had been married but three years when he left his young wife in order to aid his country in her hour of peril. On the lath of August, 1862, he joined the army as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for a Uttle more than three years, holding the rank of sergeant. He was once slightly wounded and on many other occasions was a target for the enemy's bullets, for he was frequently in the thickest of the fight. He participated in the battle of Franklin and of Shreveport, was with Major A. J. Smith on a trip to the Yellow Bayou and took part in the battles of Memphis and Baton Rouge. When the war was over he returned to his home in Adams county and there engaged in farming.

It was after the war that Mr. and Mrs. Williams received from her father the gift of a farm of one hundred acres. In 1873 they became residents of Henry county, settling in Orion, where Mr, Williams conducted a farming implement business until 1886, In that year he was elected sheriff and removed to Cambridge. He had previously served as deputy sheriff for twelve years, and he filled the office of sheriff for four years. At the close of his term he became ill and was sick for a long time. He had made a competent officer, being faithful and zealous in the discharge of his duties, so that his record was one which gained for him high commendation.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born four children: Ida B., J. I. Delbert, Charles D., and Lulie V. The eldest, Ida B., married George M. Baugh, and they reside with Mrs. Williams. They had ten children, as follows: Patience K.; L. Max; Anna Pearl; Clelland R.; Charles M.; Juanita Fern; Forrest Claire; Benjamin Burdette; Marjorie; and Otallie; of whom Charles M. died in 1905, J. I. Delbert, the next in order of birth, wedded Gertrude Nowers, by whom he has one daughter, Helen Lucile. They now make their home in Cambridge. Charles D., who married Mrs. Louisa Ryan, resides in Chicago; while Lulie v., the youngest, passed away December 27, 1890, when seventeen years of age.

The death of the husband and father occurred August 30, 1896, when he was sixty years of age. He belonged to the Modern Woodman Camp, was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and also maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army post. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, and he was recognized as one of the strong workers in its ranks in this part of the state. His rehgious faith was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs. He left to his family the priceless heritage of a good name, for his record was at all times honorable and upright. Mrs. WiUiams still survives and makes her home in Cambridge, where she has an extensive circle of warm friends.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.