In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1854, Orange Township
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903)
WILLIAM A. WILLIAMSON.
The noble art of husbandry has ever been the conservator of our national progress and prosperity, and among those prominently concerned as its votaries in this section is the subject of this review. He was born in Orange township, Hancock county, Ohio, on the 19th of February, 1854, his parents being William and Jane (McCroskey) Williamson, the former born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1810, and the latter in Vriginia, in 1813. Their marriage is believed to have been celebrated in Virginia, from which commonwealth they removed to Greene county, Ohio, and some years later took up thdr above in Tuscarawas county, this state. In 1851 they cast in their lot with the early settlers of Hancock county, and in the following year Mr. Williamson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Orange township, to which he subsequently added an additional tract of eighty acres. At the time of the purchase this land was in its primitive condition, but during the lifetime of Mr. Williamson it was cleared and improved and became one of the valuable homesteads of the locality. This worthy pioneer was a valued and consistent member of the United Presbyterian church, and in his political views was a stanch supporter of Republican principles. Ever loyal and patriotic, he gave three of his six sons to the cause of the Union during the dark days of the rebellion, one, Granville L., having died from the effects of wounds received in the battle of Chattanooga, while Madison H. died of disease contracted in the army. Joseph H., who was taken prisoner previous to the capture of the city of Richmond, is now a resident of Orange township, Hancock county. Of the ten children bom imto Mr. and Mrs. Williamson only five are now living. The mother was called to her final rest on the nth of September, 1877, the 24th of May, 1894, her husband joined her in the spirit world.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
On the:4th of October, 1880, Mr. Williamson was united in marriage to Miss Anna J. Hamilton, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1860, and is a daughter of James and Sarah Hamilton. This union has been blessed with two children, — James M. and Ruah E. Both Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which the former has long served as a deacon and elder, also a Sunday-school superintendent and has held other minor offices. He has given his aid in many generous ways to the perpetuation of those forces which conserve the best interests of the community, and the course that he has followed in political, business, social and home cuxles commends him to the high esteem of all. He was a member of the board of agriculture four years, president of the same for two years and vice president one year.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
W. A. WILLIAMSON, who is one of the largest breeders and dealers in full blooded stock in Hancock County, O., owns 160 acres of fine farm land, eighty of which is situated in Section 34, Union Township, which has been his home since he was twenty-one years of age, while the other eighty acres are located in Section 3, Orange Township. He was born in Orange Township, Hancock County, O., February 19, 1854, and is a son of W. M. and Jane (Mc- Crosky) Williamson.
W. M. Williamson was a well known farmer and man of influence in Orange Township, where he lived for forty-four years. He was born in Greene County, O., came to Orange Township in Hancock County, in 1850, and died at Mt. Cory in 1894, at the age of eighty-four years. His widow survived him but a short time.
W. A. Williamson obtained his education in the schools of Orange Township and lived at home until his marriage, in 1880, when he came to the present farm. Here he has done a large amount of improving and during the past twelve years has erected his new frame house and barn and has completed the tiling of his land. While he carries on general farming he also gives much attention to stock and his reputation for high grade stock of all kinds has extended all through this section of Ohio. He has other business interests, being one of the directors of the Mt. Cory Elevator and Exchange Company, at Mt. Cory, and is president of the Farmers’ Mutual Telephone Company, of Hancock County. He has taken an active part in township affairs, has served as assessor six different times, for seven years was a member of the school board and now is land appraiser.
Mr. Williamson was married October 14, j 1880, to Miss Jane Hamilton, of Fairfield County, O., and they have two children: ‘
James M. and Ruth Ethel. Mr. Williamson \ and family are members of the United Presbyterian church of Cannonsburg, in which he; is an elder.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.