My Genealogy Hound

REV. MARTIN L. WILLIAMS, minister of M. E. Church (South), was born Aug. 16, 1857, in Cockle county, Tennessee, and is the only child of James B. and Jane Williams. James B. was born in Severe county Tenn., Dec. 31, 1835, and was of South Carolina lineage. Mrs. Williams, whose maiden name was Harper, was a native of Tennessee, born in Cockle county, May 8, 1833. They were married in Cockle county, in 1856, and now reside in Benton county, Ark. Martin L. received his primary education in the schools of Tennessee, and attended Forest Grove Seminary, in Giles county for four years, two of which were spent in the Theological department. He was admitted on trial to the Arkansas Conference in 1877, and ordained a deacon in 1878, and made an elder in 1881; he has been in charge of Marshall and Yellville, Ark; and Marshfield, Joplin, Webb City, Carterville, and Pierce City, Mo., at which latter place he is at present He was married October 17, 1878, to Miss Mary Jane Robertson of Green county, Tenn. They havre two children. Myrtle K., aged three years; and Beulah May, aged one year. Mr. Williams, although a young man, is recognized by the conference as one of its most prominent members. It has been his fortune to be put in charge of places where the work of organizing classes and building churches has had to be done. In this work he has been very successful. Through his efforts in 1882 a fine brick church has been erected in Webb City, at a cost of $4,500; also in Carterville and Joplin, new and tastey edifices of worship were built; in all at an expense of over $7,500. From a class of only seven in Webb City, when he came here, he has raised the membership to over forty. As a speaker he ranks high, always commanding the closest attention of his audiences. In logic he is clear and concise; in his views, liberal, and in personal asssociation, plain and unassuming.