My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS H. WILLIAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32; P. O. Ithaca. The subject of this memoir is another among the many old settlers to be found in Twin Township; he was born in Washington Co., Penn., July 5, 1806, and is a son of John and Margaret Williams; his father was a native of Maryland, his mother being born in Washington Co., Penn.; he was reared on the farm, and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits till his 18th year, when he began life for himself, and engaged in ship-carpentering for three years, when, having gained his majority, he emigrated West, and traveled through the States of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and, on his way up the Mississippi River to Wisconsin, he erected the first building in Keokuk, and also the first fine frame building in Madison, Iowa. This Western tour occupied about twelve years, when he removed to Pennsylvania, in 1839, and operated a saw-mill for two years, when he returned to Warren Co., Ohio, and was united in marriage with Miss Nancy, daughter of Barzilla and Mary Clark, Dec. 13, 1846. Her parents being residents of Warren Co., he remained in Warren Co. till the next year, and then removed to Darke Co., in Twin Township; he first purchased 40 acres of land, on which he erected a frame dwelling, and moved his family into their new quarters in September, 1847; his land being in a wild state, Mr. Williams commenced his almost herculean task of removing the vast growth of timber and underbrush from the land, to prepare it for the implements of agriculture, and by dint of hard labor and perseverance, he succeeded in removing these obstructions; in 1871, he purchased 80 acres more land, and in addition to the other, he now owns 120 acres of as fine land as is to be found in Darke Co.; all in a good state of cultivation. Politically, Mr. Williams is a sound Republican, and has been identified with the most of the township offices; he, with his estimable wife, are leading members in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have labored long and earnestly in their Master’s vineyard. Mr. Williams is greatly interested in educational matters, and has spared neither pains nor expense in giving his children good educations, his son Thornton being a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and a proficient and successful educator. Mr. Williams informs us that James G. Elaine, America’s greatest orator and statesman, was once a pupil in his brother’s school, who was a very prominent educator in Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Williams are nine in number, viz.: Clark L., born Dec. 7, 1848; Thornton R., born July 21, 1850; Frank M., born Nov. 3, 1852; Mary Belle, born May 31, 1854; Martha J, born March 31, 1856; Melissa A., born April 5, 1858; their first child died in infancy; Clark departed this life Feb. 9, 1871; Frank died Aug. 30, 1868.