ThomasR. Williams
THOMAS R. WILLIAMS, Superintendentof the Cass County Poor Farm, was born in Bertie county, North Carolina,June 1, 1850. He is the son of Williamson A. and Margaret (Thomas) Williams,natives of Bertie county, North Carolina. The family is an old one in theState. The parents lived on a farm until after the birth of six children,and in the fall of 1856 removed to Illinois by wagon, and settled in thisfavored section, not far from Bluff Springs. They rented for two years,and then purchased the farm where they lived, when the mother died in May,1884, three-score-and-ten. She was a member of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch. Her husband remained on the farm for two years longer, and thenwent to Beardstown, and one year later came to Bluff Springs, and herespent his last years, dying in October, 1888. Be was a good citizen, amember of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a stanch Democrat, and a veryworthy man,
Our subject and his brother are the onlymembers of the family now living. Mr. Williams has lived in this countysince he was six years of age, and has been a practical farmer since hewas twenty-two years of age. He took charge of the Poor Farm in 1887, afterhis brother had managed it for eight years. It is located at Bluff Springs.and consists of more than 100 acres of fine land. It is well managed byMr. Williams.
The average poor in attendance all the timeis about twelve, and there is but one feeble minded person among them.
Our subject was married in this county toSophia Reichert, born in Beardstown, in 1857, reared and, educated in Casscounty, and a daughter of Conrad and Sophia Reichert, of, Germany. Themother died in the prime of life, in Cass county. Mr. Reichert was marriedthe second time to Mrs. Withroe, and they live in Beardstown, now quiteold.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three children:Charles F., John F. and Howard, all at home. The family belongs to theMethodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Williams is a Democrat. The countyhas the right man in the right place.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, page 207.
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