My Genealogy Hound

Edward H. Williams. He whose name heads this brief sketch is one of Mississippi County’s most active and enterprising business men, alive to all current topics, and public-spirited and progressive in all matters tending to benefit the community. He was born near Elmot, in 1859, his parents being James H. and Nellie (Heath) Williams [for whose history see sketch of James H. Williams]. As Edward grew toward youth and early manhood he attended school in the neighborhood of his home, and worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he engaged as a clerk for A. Goodrich of Osceola, with whom he remained one year. After renting and tilling his father’s farm for two years, he started from home with the intention of going to Florida, but stopped in Alabama, and attended school at Florence for some six months, after which he concluded that his native State was good enough to suit him, so he returned and went into business with D. T. Waller, which partnership was dissolved at the end of twenty months, Mr. Waller purchasing his interest. He then bought out N. W. Goodrich, and for two years was associated with A. Goodrich, purchasing his partner’s interest at the end of that time; he has conducted affairs in a very satisfactory manner, proving himself to be a man of rare business ability and efficiency. He keeps an excellent assortment of general merchandise, his stock being valued at about $4,000, and has won the reputation of being one of the first business men in Mississippi County. He is enterprising and energetic, studying largely the interests of the people, and fully justifies the confidence and esteem which are bestowed upon him. In connection with his mercantile interests he is managing his father’s farm, growing cotton, and has been postmaster at Elmot since May, 1885. His estimable wife was formerly Miss Maude Dunn, of Pensacola, Fla., to whom he was married on the 17th of March, 1885, and by her he has one child, Edward James. Mrs. Williams is connected with the Catholic Church.