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S. B. WILLIAMS.
S. B. Williams, who is holding the important and responsible position of national pension agent for Jasper county,
was born in Montgomery county, Illinois, April 1, 1834. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Williams, was a
native of Kentucky, and was there reared and married. He afterward became one of the early pioneers of Montgomery
county, Illinois. His life occupation was that of a farmer. The family is of Welsh descent. David Williams, the
father of our subject, was also a native of Kentucky, but when eight years of age removed with his parents to Illinois,
a location being made in Montgomery county, where David M. followed agricultural pursuits. He subsequently took
up his abode in Kansas, where he passed away in 1861. He was prominent in the ranks of the Republican party, and
for many years served his county as a justice of the peace. He voted for Fremont in 1856. In his religious affiliations
he was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The mother of our subject, nee Mary Bartlett, was born and
reared in Kentucky, and lived to the age of seventy two years. Her father, Samuel Bartlett, was a native of the
Old Dominion and of English descent. He subsequently left the state of his birth and took up his residence in Kentucky.
Unto David M. and Mary (Bartlett) Williams were born five children who grew to years of maturity.
S. B. Williams, the eldest child in the above family, was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, and
his education was there received in the district and select schools. He remained under the parental roof until
twenty three years of age, and after reaching his twenty first year he followed school teaching until the breaking
out of the Civil war, when, his patriotic spirit being aroused, he enlisted for service in Company D, Thirty second
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He entered the army in 1862, and for three years served his country as a
gallant and intrepid soldier. He was with A. J. Smith's Sixteenth Army Corps, and participated in the battles of
Little Rock, Helena and Brownsville, Arkansas, where he was shot through the Jeff breast, and for thirteen months
was confined at Little Rock and Murfreesboro. He was then sent north to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was engaged
in guard duty, and was honorably discharged at Cairo, Illinois, to which place he had been sent to do guard duty.
After the close of hostilities and when the country no longer needed his services Mr. Williams returned to his
home in Montgomery county, where he again took up the quiet duties of the farm, also teaching school during the
winter months. He followed the dual occupation until about 1873, when he went to Salina, Kansas, there following
agricultural pursuits for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Jasper county, Missouri, locating
on a farm in Duval township, where he followed farming through the summer months and taught school during the winters
at Cedar Bluffs, Sunnyside and Alba. In 1885 he located on a farm in Mineral township, remaining there until 1890,
when he took up his residence in Alba. Here he has since remained, and his genial nature and true worth have gained
and retained for him the love and esteem of many friends.
In 1856 occurred the marriage of Mr. Tilliams and Miss Mary A. Jones, a native of Harrison county, Indiana, but
reared in Montgomery county, Illinois. She is a daughter of Hardy and Matilda (Nicholson) Jones, who became early
settlers of Montgomery county, Illinois, and were of Irish and English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have become
the parents of six children, namely: Mary M., the wife of George McClellan, a painter of Hillsboro, Illinois; Martha
E., the wife of George Morris, a machinist of Bellville, this state; Joseph C., deceased; Dora A., the wife of
W. E. Robbins, whose sketch appears in this volume; Ida M., the wife of Samuel Cather, who is engaged in business
with Mr. Robbins; and Orlando, a resident of Jasper county. In his political affiliations Mr. Williams is a stanch
supporter of Republican principles, and in 1856 he cast his first presidential vote for Fremont, having ever since
continued an active worker in the party's ranks. Shile a resident of Montgomery county, Illinois, he held the office
of justice of the peace for eight years, and in Jasper county he has filled that responsible position for fourteen
years. He has also served as township clerk and has held many other positions of honor and trust. At one time he
was a candidate for assessor, but as the county had a Democratic majority of about six hundred votes he was defeated,
although he ran ahead of his ticket, coming within one hundred and seven voters of winning the election. He is
now serving as national pension agent.
In his social relations Mr. Silliams is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, holding membership in Post
No. 559, in which he has served as senior vice commander. He was made a Mason in the '60s, in Donaldson, Lodge
No. 255, of Illinois. Religiously he is a member of the Friends church.
From:
The Biographical History of Jasper County, Missouri
By Hon. Malcolm G. McGregor
The Lewis Publishing Co.
Chiago 1901
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