GEORGE W. WILLIAMS was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1826. He was the son of Thomas and Margaret (Young) Williams. The former was a native of New York and died in St. Louis, Missouri, when George was about four years old. Mrs. Williams was born in Pennsylvania and died in Brown County, at the home of her son, aged seventy-eight.

George W. Williams was bound out to the trade of saddler at the age of eight and remained there until he was seventeen, working for his board and clothes. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he hired out at ten dollars a month and worked for six months before he went to St. Louis and worked under instructions for two years, and then traveled for two years. In 1849 he started a shop in St. Charles, Missouri, and continued there until the next year, when he started for Mt. Sterling. He remained there only one summer and then opened a shop in Versailles. In 1852 he sold out and crossed the plains to California with a team of oxen. He engaged in mining at Michigan Bar and followed it for several months, when the city was burned. He then went to the mines, but that fall opened a shop in Red Bluff and managed it until 1858. He then returned by way of New Orleans to Versailles and again opened a shop. In a year or two, he went on a farm, which he had bought previously, of 240 acres, partly improved. He built a log cabin 16 by 18 feet and lived there until 1863, when he built a two-story frame house and various farm buildings. Mr. Williams retired from farm work in the spring of 1891 and bought a nice house with twelve acres surrounding it in Mt. Sterling, just out of the city limits. He has been Assessor and School Director. He is a strong Democrat, though he cast his first vote for Taylor.

Mr. Williams was married in Versailles, Illinois, October 11, 1858, to Miss Juliet Ross, of Kentucky. She was the daughter of Richard Ross. Mr. Ross is still living, but his wife is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have four children yet living, three being dead. Those still living are: Frank, married and having a bag works at the old home; Lydia, married; Charley and Edith are at home.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Williams are very estimable people and are very influential among their large circle of friends.

Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 247-248.