George W. Williams Biography  
GeorgeW. Williams

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

George W. Williams was boundout to the trade of saddler at the age of eight, and remained there untilhe was seventeen, working for his board and clothes. At the expirationof his apprenticeship, he hired out at ten dollars a month, and workedfor six months before he went to St. Louis, and worked under instructionsfor two years, and then traveled for two years. In 1849 he started a shopin St. Charles, Missouri, and continued there until the next year, whenhe started for Mt. Sterling. He remained there only one summer, and thenopened a shop in Versailles. In 1852 he sold out and crossed the plainsto 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 wentto the mines, but that fall opened a shop in Red Bluff, and managed ituntil 1858. He then returned by way of New Orleans to Versailles, and againopened a shop. In a year or two he went on a farm, which he had boughtpreviously, of 240 acres, partly improved. He built a log cabin 16 by 18feet and lived there until 1863, when he built a two-story frame houseand various farm buildings. Mr. Williams retired from farm work in thespring of 1891, and bought a nice house with twelve acres surrounding itin Mt. Sterling, just out of the city limits. He has been Assessor andSchool Director. He is a strong Democrat, though he cast his first votefor Taylor.

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

Both Mr. and Mrs. Williamsare very estimable people, and are very influential among their large circleof friends.

Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 247-248.

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