My Genealogy Hound

JOHN M. WILLIAMS, who is one of the extensive stockmen of the state, was born in St. Louis County, Mo., March 11, 1851, but is at present living in Johnson County, his estate being located on section 19, township 45, range 25. He is the son of Thomas W. and Dicey (Terson) Williams, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, November 8, 1816, and the latter, born October 11, 1815, in St. Louis County, Mo.

The grandfather, William Williams, was a farmer in Tennessee, where he lived until about 1820, when he came to Missouri, living for some time in St. Louis County. He later, however, went to Texas, where his death occurred. His son, Thomas W., accompanied him on his removal to this section and worked on the home place until his union with Miss Terson. He made St. Louis County his home until our subject was two years of age, when he sold his possessions there, and became a resident of Johnson County. Here he entered a tract of two hundred and forty acres, on which he made valuable improvements, and added to his possessions until he was the owner of four hundred and forty acres. On this estate he made his home until his decease, in 1871, with the exception of four years when holding the office of Sheriff of Johnson County. His good wife is still living, residing on the old homestead with her daughter, Mrs. Burford.

To Thomas Williams and his wife there were born eleven children, one of whom, Mary Ann, died in infancy. Thomas J. was born December 19, 1839; he married Mary J. Sluder, and is engaged in farming near Sheldon, Vernon County, this state. Elizabeth was born November 27, 1841; she became the wife of William H. Burford, and lives on the old home place. William was born June 17, 1843; he married Elizabeth Bowles, and is now a resident of Oklahoma. Martha Jane was born May 12, 1845; she is now Mrs. T. F. Burford, and lives near the home place; Margaret, who was born February 19, 1847, is now residing with her husband, Asa Woodford, in Marionville, this state. Anderson was born December 1, 1848; he married Mollie McSherry, and their home is in Warrensburg; John M. was the next in order of birth; Charles E. was born November 9, 1852; he married Angeline Kirkpatrick, and now lives in Marionville, Mo.; Stephen D. was born May 26, 1856; he married Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, and their place of residence is also Marionville; and James H., who was born December 26, 1859, married Lucinda W. Bowles, and they now live in Nashville, this state.

Our subject lived at home and helped in cultivating the farm until his marriage, December 4, 1870. The lady to whom he was united was Miss Sarah A. Bowles. Her parents, who were natives, respectively, of Hanover County, Va., and Warren County, Mo., were large slave-holders in the Old Dominion, where the father lived until 1845, when he came west to this state and settled in Warren County. He there taught school until his marriage, after which he engaged in farming, living in that section until his decease, March 26, 1891. After the death of his first wife, formerly a Miss Wyatt, he was married to Mary Margaret Gibson, of Lincoln County, who survived her union seven years. By his first union he became the father of three children, namely: John W., who died during the war; Elizabeth, who married the brother of our subject, and now lives in Oklahoma; Martha, who became the wife of Morrison Morris, and is now living on a farm in Henry County. By his marriage with Miss Gibson there were born the following-named six children: Sarah Ann, James H., Almeda G., Lucinda W., Thomas H. and Virginia C. They are all married and still living.

For the first twelve months after his marriage our subject continued to live under the parental roof, when he took charge of a tract of land belonging to his father. He remained on this land but one year, when he purchased forty acres of his present farm, for which he paid $600. To this he later added a like amount, and now has eighty acres of the most productive land within the limits of the county. He has been the recipient of numerous offices of honor and trust, but very much prefers to live in peace and quiet, and give his undivided attention to his farm work. He is an extensive stock-breeder, and now has on his farm five jacks, and one Norman stallion, named “Gose.” It is an imported French horse, and was purchased from Springer & Willard, of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

In politics Mr. Williams voted the straight Republican ticket until about two years ago, when he had reason to change his views and will hereafter be a Third Party man. He is a member of Sandstone Lodge No. 137, A. O. U. W., and with his wife is a devoted member of the Christian Church.