My Genealogy Hound

Rev. John Williams, president of the Wesleyan Female College, at Brownsville, Tenn., was born in Elizabeth City, N. C., May 10, 1831, and is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Carmott) Williams, who were natives of North Carolina. Rev. John Williams is a graduate of the Randolph Macon College, formerly located in Mecklenburg County, Va. In 1852 he commenced teaching, but devoted part of his time to reading law. In 1854 he was admitted to the bar in Elizabeth City, N. C., but only practiced a short time, then resumed teaching, and in 1857 he accepted a position as teacher in the Wesleyan Female College, at Murfreesboro, N. C., remaining there until the school was suspended on account of the war, in 1862, but taught a private school until 1865, when the Wesleyan College was re-opened and he taught there until 1867, when he came to Brownsville and organized his present school, which was chartered under its present name. December 21, 1859, Mr. Williams married Katharine A. Pugh, daughter of Frank and Mary (Roscoe) Pugh, of Bertie County, N. C. They had six daughters and four sons: William P., Elizabeth C., Elizabeth C., Jr., Mary B., Kate P., John C., Elizabeth P., Octavia E., Frank R. and Pugh. Four are dead: Elizabeth C, Elizabeth C, Jr., Frank R. and Pugh. Since 1864 Mr. Williams has devoted a good deal of his time to preaching, being a member of the Methodist conference. Mr. Williams is widely known as a thorough educator, and has done a great deal for the cause of education and religion. He is a cultured gentleman, a fine teacher and a true Christian. He is of French and English descent, and in politics a Democrat.