My Genealogy Hound

Col. H. G. P. Williams is a highly respected and enterprising citizen of Hillsboro, Union County, Ark., his birth occurring in Tuscaloosa, Ala., February 21, 1827, being the fifth of fourteen children born to Benjamin C. and Martha (Pounds) Williams, who are native Georgians. They were of Scotch and Irish origin, respectively, and the grandparents on both sides came from the old country. The father was in the Indian War of 1818 or 1820, but in 1843 moved with his family to Union County, Ark., and here he and his wife spent the rest of their days. Col. H. G. P. Williams began doing for himself at the age of twenty-one years, and was reared principally in Union County, Ark., having obtained a good education. After farming for some time he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and at present is a member of the firm of Williams & Smith, which does a business of from $25,000 to $35,000 per year. On a lot owned by Mr. Williams, in the town of Hillsboro, he erected a steam cotton-gin, grist-mill, cotton seed-crusher and huller, stock feed mill, and also attached to his machinery a saw, planer and matcher, and with all this machinery does work for the public. This is an exceptionally useful combination mill, which cannot be equaled in the State, and Mr. Williams is ready and willing to add any other machinery that will add to the interest of the county. This mill is situated in the midst of a fine timbered country, and in addition to this property he is the owner of 900 acres of land, 100 of which are under cultivation. He is greatly interested in the raising of blooded stock, especially cattle, having a nice herd of Devons, and also has a registered Jersey male animal. Col. Williams has been married twice, first, in 1853, to Miss Lovicy Tatum, who was a daughter of Joshua P. and Sarah Tatum, who came from Alabama to Union County, Ark., about 1840. To Mr. Williams and his wife a family of five children were born, all of whom are dead except Thomas W., who resides in Hillsboro. The mother of these children died in August, 1867, and in December, 1868, Mr. Williams married Miss Mary C. Smith, who is a native of this county and a daughter of Lawson Smith, one of the pioneers of the county, who is still living, his home being six miles north of Hillsboro. To this second marriage three children have been born: James A., Horatio G. and Augustus Garland, all of whom are living, the eldest being an attendant of Ouachita College, at Arkadelphia. Mr. Williams joined the Confederate army in March, 1862, as a private in a company of twelve months’ troops raised in and around Hillsboro, and by acclamation was elected captain of this company, which was made a part of the Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry at DuVall’s Bluff in the spring of 1862. At the end of three months it was reorganized for the war, and Mr. Williams was chosen major of the regiment, and in 1863 was promoted to colonel. After the surrender of Vicksburg and Port Hudson the Nineteenth Arkansas, the Fifteenth (Port Hudson) and the Twentieth Arkansas were consolidated and became known as the Third Consolidated Regiment, to the command of which he was assigned, and this position he held until the close of the war. He was in the bombardment of Fort Pillow, from there was ordered to the Shiloh battle-ground, but failed to make that place until after the battle was fought. He afterward took part in the battles of Farmington, Corinth and Hatchie Bridge, in which Gens. Van Dorn and Price participated, and after this engagement his regiment took part in the battles at Baker’s Creek, Big Black and siege of Vicksburg. Col. Williams, being separated from his command on other duty with a small detachment of troops, joined Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s command, who was menacing the rear of Gen. Grant’s army, but after the surrender of Vicksburg he retreated to Jackson, Miss., being followed by Sherman’s army, and took part in the fight at that place. The troops being paroled at Vicksburg, Col. Williams received orders with other officers from Gen. Pemberton to return to Arkansas and gather up the paroled troops, which they did, establishing a camp near Washington in Hempstead County. After the exchange of prisoners Col. Williams was put in command of the infantry portion of the Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Ark., troops, constituting a brigade, and led them in the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry. He was slightly wounded three times in the battle of Corinth, but otherwise was so fortunate as to escape while in the service. At the early age of twenty-one years he was elected to the position of magistrate, serving about four years, after which he was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1874, in which he served until its adjournment. Col. Williams is a member of the A. F. & A. M., having joined that order in 1862, and he is also a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, having attached himself to that denomination at the age of fourteen years. He has always given liberally of his means to worthy enterprises, and although he is now sixty-three years of age he is a hale and hearty gentleman, and gives every promise of spending many more years of usefulness at Hillsboro. He is a Democrat, politically, works assiduously for the success of his party, but never asks political preferment for himself.