My Genealogy Hound

Garret Williams, one of the largest fruit growers and farmers of Madison County, living in the southwest part of Prairie Township, was born in Washington County, six miles south of Goshen, and is a son of Moses and Charlotte (Sherrod) Williams. The father was a son of Riley Williams, who settled on the edge of Washington County about 1830, and died about 1871. He was a pioneer of Missouri and died a well-to-do farmer. Moses also was a farmer, and lived in Washington County until his death in 1864, in ambush. The mother is living with A. Byrd, in Goshen, aged fifty-eight. Our subject was reared upon a farm and remained with his parents until the war, and after serving in the Confederate army a year, went to Texas for three months. January 14, 1865, he was shot in an engagement with the Federals at Dardanelle, Ark., the ball passing through his left pocket and lodging in the back part of his thigh, where it remained two years. It then came to the surface and was removed by E. P. Williams, half uncle to Mr. Williams. Having returned from Texas at the end of the period mentioned, he continued at home until twenty-six years of age, and then began farming for himself where he now lives. His farm consists of 400 acres, thirty-five bearing fruit and 225 under cultivation. He received the first premium on the Lawver Apple at the New Orleans Exposition, and at Springdale October 13, 1886, took nine premiums. He also won the championship of Northwest Arkansas, on the quality and variety of his fruits, at Springdale, and in October, 1887, the second premium on variety and quality, besides several single premiums. Some of his apples weigh two pounds. He has a nursery containing 40,000 trees, the only one in the county. September 15, 1873, he married Belle Wilson, daughter of B. H. Wilson, of Madison County. This lady was born August 9, 1853, and has borne five children: Nathan B., Fred H., Stella, Archie and Nolan. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and enjoy the esteem of the community. In politics Mr. Williams has always been a Democrat.