My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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.

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John W. Williams, farmer and stock raiser, was born in this county in 1834, near his present home, the son of Benjamin and Margret (Kiser) Williams, the former, of Welsh stock, born on the Harrison County line, in Kentucky, in 1797, and the latter born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1815. After his marriage in 1833 he came to this county, and in 1853 located where John W. now resides. He came with horses, making a journey of twenty-one days’ length. In 1876 his death occurred. He was the owner of 640 acres, and assisted in raising the first courthouse of the county. Since his death the mother has been living with her only child, our subject. He was educated at Christian University, and July 13, 1861, enlisted in Capt. Richardson’s company, in Gen. Green’s regiment, Pason’s division, Price’s command, and served at Athens, Lexington, Prairie Grove, Helena, Pleasant Hill and other places. He was an orderly sergeant, and afterward first lieutenant. He was wounded at both Prairie Grove and Pleasant Hill—by a shell at the former place, and with a shot through the ankle at the latter. The shell wound in the thigh disabled him for about four weeks, and the other wound about eight months. He surrendered at Shreveport. April 12, 1866, he married Sallie, a daughter of Thomas T. and Martha (Dacon) Hamer, and born in Monticello in 1845. Their only child, Louis I., was born in 1867. Our subject has lived all his life within a radius of one mile of his present home. A part of his present residence was built before 1833, and his son is the only person ever born in the house. He now owns about 700 acres of land, and is proud of the fact that he never had a law suit, never served as a witness in court, never had a difficulty of any note with any one, and has never been under the influence of any kind of intoxicating drink. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Fillmore, in 1856. He is a Mason, and he and his wife hold to the belief of the Christian Church, of which his mother has been a member since 1851.

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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

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