My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Jefferson County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Falkland H. Williams, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Central Township, was born near Pevely in 1840, and is the seventh of twelve children, six of whom are living. He is the son of Silas and Nancy (Adams) Williams. The father was born at Charleston, S. C., in 1801, but came with the rest of the family, except the father who died in South Carolina, to Cape Girardeau, Mo., in a very early day, where Silas and a brother run a shoe shop for some years. Silas then came to Jefferson County and invested in the Sandy Lead Mines, which he operated for some time. He was married about 1825, and soon after settled near Pevely on a farm, and afterwards settled at Sandy Ridge, six miles north of Hillsboro, where he died in 1852. He was a natural mechanic and could manufacture almost anything in the cabinet line, etc., but the latter part of his days was passed on the farm. He served in the Black Hawk War and his father was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of Falkland H. was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1811, and died January 13, 1886. Her father was a descendant of ex-president John Adams, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. Both father and mother of our subject were members of the Baptist Church. Falkland H. Williams remained with his mother until he attained his majority; attended the common schools during the winter season. He then spent two years working in the Sandy Mines the most of the time during the night, and worked on a farm or attended the schools during the day. During the winter of 1861 and 1862 he attended school at Benton, Ill., and in 1862 enlisted in Company A, Thirty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel, afterward Gov. Fletcher, and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Siege of Vicksburg, and was then taken sick, and in September of 1863 was discharged. He acted as orderly sergeant and commissary sergeant a part of the time. In 1864 he joined the Eightieth Regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia. In 1865 he married Miss Fannie C., daughter of Elder Sullivan and Martha Frazier, and a native of Jefferson County. Mr. Frazier was a well-known Baptist preacher, and an early settler of Jefferson County. Nine children were the result of Mr. Williams’ marriage, six of whom are now living: Lizzie May, Josie G., Dollie C., Falkland H., Walter E. and Charles Carl. Mr. Williams first located on the old home farm, but in 1868 he removed to an adjoining farm, seven miles north of Hillsboro, where he has 108 acres of fine productive land. He has been a life-long farmer, has served two years as constable and several years as deputy sheriff. Under township organization he was township clerk, is a firm believer in the Democratic principles, and voted for Seymour, in 1868. He is a member of the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Aid Association, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 224 biographies included in The History of Jefferson County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Jefferson County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.