My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. WILLIAMS. Many of the most successful farmers of Cass County have spent their entire lives within its limits, and have from youth been intimately associated with the development of its resources. In this class we may mention the name of Mr. Williams, who was born in Milton Township, this county, on the 16th of March, 1837, and who now owns and cultivates a finely-improved farm on section 14, of this township. His father, Spencer Williams, was born in Sussex County, Del., in 1807, and in his youth spent about three years in Ohio. Returning to Delaware, he spent only a short time in that State, and removed thence to Michigan, in 1831, making the journey in company with Peter Truitt and other well-known pioneers of Cass County.

Locating on a rented farm in Milton Township, the senior Mr. Williams devoted his attention to improving the place, and was very successful in his efforts, taking rank among the foremost agriculturists of his vicinity. He died at the age of seventy years, in 1877, mourned not alone by his immediate relatives, but also by his large circle of acquaintances. At the age of twenty-seven years he married Miss Sarah Smith, a native of Delaware, born April 4, 1812; she died May 9, 1881, after a life of usefulness, devoted to the welfare of her husband and children, to whom she was most tenderly attached. Her father, George Smith, was a native of Delaware, while the paternal grandfather, Spencer Williams, was of Scotch descent.

Our subject is the second child of his father’s family, which numbered thirteen, nine of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. They are: John H., George W., Mary M., Emma A., Eliza A. (deceased), Lovina, Samuel O., and Spencer (deceased). Wesley died at the age of five years; Tamson A. passed away when two years old, and two others died in infancy. In 1861 George W. enlisted as a member of Company K., Sixth Michigan Infantry, becoming a private. Later he was transferred to the heavy artillery, and participated in many engagements of the Army of the Gulf. He was wounded at Port Hudson with a minie-ball, but otherwise escaped uninjured. At the close of his period of enlistment he was honorably discharged from the service, at Kalamazoo, and, returning to his home, resumed farming operations.

December 28, 1864, Mr. Williams married Miss Mary A. McMichael, who was born in Harris Township, St. Joseph County, Ind., on the 8th of September, 1839. Her father, Alexander McMichael, was born in Erie, Pa., January 20, 1807, and died July 7, 1870. Her mother, whose maiden name was Jane Coverdale, was born in Delaware, June 11, 1818, and is still living, being now (1893) seventy-five years old. Mrs. Williams was the eldest of three daughters, the others being Martha A., born July 1, 1844, and Fannie, born November 1, 1848. All are now deceased. Mrs. Williams passed away on the last day of the year 1891, leaving one son, Guy M., whose birth occurred September 14, 1869, on the farm where he now resides. He is an intelligent, well-informed young man, and a graduate of the South Bend Commercial College.

In 1868 Mr. Williams located on his present farm, and has devoted his attention to his farming pursuits, working with so much energy and ability that he has acquired the ownership of one hundred and fifty-nine acres of well-improved land, embellished with suitable buildings and machinery adapted to agricultural purposes. Politically, he is a Republican, but never takes an active interest in political matters, and has never consented to hold official positions. He is a member of the Disciples Church, on Harris Prairie, and is one of the Deacons in that religious organization. Guy is also a member of the Christian Church, and socially affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America at Edwardsburgh.