My Genealogy Hound

Col. Beverly D. Williams, widely known by reason of his prominence as a planter of Pulaski County, now residing in Little Rock, was born in Perryville, Boyle County, Ky., and is a son of William S. Williams, a native of the same county, and a printer who learned his trade under Amos Kendall, afterward postmaster-general of the United States. The older Williams moved from Kentucky to Tennessee in 1840, locating at Memphis, where he resided and carried on a successful land business until his death, in 1860. He was married to Miss Harriet Dickerson, of Stafford County, Va., by whom he had three children, one dying in infancy: Marion W. (who was the wife of Hial S. King, and died at Memphis in 1865) and Beverly D. (the principal of this sketch). The mother died in Kentucky in the year 1830. Beverly D. Williams was born on July 4, 1822, and received a somewhat limited education in his youth on account of the few schools in his native place at that period. In 1841 he was married to Miss Narcissa B. Mitchell, a daughter of Judge James P. Mitchell, but lost this wife at Crab Orchard, Ky., who died in 1868. In the fall of 1872 Col. Williams was married to his second wife, Mrs. Annie M. Waters, widow of Dr. John Waters, of Memphis, and a grandfather of Mr. Felix Goundy. Four children were born to his first marriage, all of whom are living: Parthenia (wife of S. P. Fort, of Brinkley, Ark.), Harriet (wife of George W. Batterton, of Danville, Ky.), Hammond O. (clerk of the court of Pulaski County) and Emma (wife of Paul Tuck, residing in Memphis, Tenn.). Mrs. Williams has one son by her first marriage, Dr. John Waters, of Little Rock. In 1842 Mr. Williams was appointed deputy sheriff of Boyle County, Ky., and in 1844 became high sheriff of the same county. In 1846 he was again appointed deputy sheriff and re-elected in 1848. At the expiration of his term he commenced planting, but in the meantime had studied law under Judge Mitchell, and was admitted to the bar, in 1849. He practiced law and continued in his planting enterprises for a short time, but in 1853 he went to Louisville, Ky., where he became engaged in pork-packing with the firm of Ousley, Kenwood & Co. He remained in this business for three years, and then went to Leavenworth, Kas., to take charge of what was known as “The Pike’s Peak Expedition,’’ becoming agent and general manager for Messrs. Jones & Cartwright and Majs. Russell & Waddell. He left Leavenworth on April 1, 1859, with instructions to go to Fort Riley and Junction City, and then strike out for Denver, Colo., the nearest and best route according to his own judgment. After leaving Junction City, he was instructed to leave seven men, one woman and twelve mules at each station of twenty-five miles apart until he reached Denver; those left behind to be supplied with tents and provisions, and to make these places stations for a a stage route to be subsequently established. The expedition reached Denver May 12, having started with 160 men, women and children, and 400 mules, besides forty wagons and stages that had started on his track and overtook him before he arrived at Denver. Upon reaching that city, he sent the stages back, thus establishing the only stage-line between Leavenworth and Denver, the trip being made in from seven to nine days. Col. Williams also had orders from the company to establish headquarters at some convenient place, and, accordingly, he purchased about 1,700 lots in the heart of Denver. These same lots are now valued at $5,000,000. While in Colorado, Col. Williams examined the gold mines at Gregory, Russell’s Gulch and other points, purchasing all the gold-dust he could buy, which he had melted into the form of a brick, and sent to Leavenworth, where it was placed on exhibition, and first proved to the world the actual wealth to be found in Colorado. Col. Williams remained with the stage company for about eight months, and in the meantime a Provincial Government had been formed for the people of the (then) Territory of Jefferson, now Colorado. A legislative body was called together and put the Territorial Government machinery in motion. Col. Williams was elected by the people as a delegate to Congress, for the purpose of obtaining from that body recognition for the people as a regular Territory of the United States. He remained in Washington during the whole of the XXXVIth Congress, and in February, 1861, their object was attained, the Territory acquiring the name of Colorado. The Colonel then returned to that place, and was nominated by the Democratic party for re-election, but was defeated by his opponent, Hiram P. Bennett, on the Republican ticket. In 1862 Col. Williams returned to Kentucky and enlisted in the Fourth Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, Federal army, as first lieutenant, and was immediately detailed as quartermaster to go on the staff of Gen. James S. Jackson. He remained in this capacity until the battle of Perryville, where Gen. Jackson was killed, and Lieut. Williams was then appointed captain by President Lincoln, and assigned to the staff of Gen. Alex McDowell, serving with distinction until the close of the war. On that occasion he was ordered to St. Louis as a mustering-out officer, and in the spring of 1865, was stationed at Benton Barracks, mustering out all the troops under Gen. Bonneville, and in September of the same year, he was himself mustered out. In November, 1865, he located at Memphis, Tenn., and was appointed secretary and treasurer of the Memphis & Little Rock Railway, and remained with that road for eight years in different capacities, and when the road was completed, in 1872, he brought the first through train from Memphis to Little Rock. Col. Williams retired from railroading in 1873, and engaged in planting cotton on his wife’s plantation in Jefferson County, Ark., in which pursuit he has continued to the present time. In 1875 he purchased a fine residence on the corner of Fourth and Ringo Streets, from Col. Logan H. Roots, and moved into it with his family. His plantation now consists of 1,100 acres in cotton and 300 acres in corn, oats and other grain. In 1881 Col. Williams was elected a member of the legislature from Pulaski County, and served one term. He is at present a prominent member of the “Old Hickory Club,’’ one of the leading Democratic organizations in Arkansas. In religious faith, Col. Williams and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.