Transcript:Franklin Democrat/18980909/WILLIAMS FAMILY REUNION

Franklin Democrat, 9 Sep 1898

WILLIAMS FAMILY REUNION ~ Edinburg, Ind-Aug 30.

Editor Democrat: The second reunion of the Allen Williams family was held at this place today at the fair grounds. There were in attendance at this meeting Rufus Williams, H G Williams, David A. Williams, Frank T Williams, Jackson Williams, John Williams, Martin Cutsinger, M L Herbert, Joel Williams and their families, all of Johnson county; John A. Williams, Henry Wheeler, James Cutsinger, Alexander Cutsinger, Thomas Cutsinger and their families of Shelby county; Amos Williams and wife, and S M Dennison of Bartholomew county, and Mrs. Clayborn Williams and children of Sullivan county. There were several others present but not having any thought of being requested to write up an account of the reunion we did not take a list of the names of those present. We are sorry we did not take notes so we could furnish a complete writeup of the meeting.

There were a large number of the relatives present and after enjoying an old-fashioned picnic the dinner having been spread on the ground, all partook. After dinner all assembled in the old amphitheater and president Rufus Williams called the meeting to order. Jackson Williams had been selected by the executive committee to deliver the genealogical or historical address of the Williams family. The address was able and exhaustive, and from the best information from records and tradition. The history of the Williams family was traced from James Lanier Williams, born in Scotland in the sixteenth century, down to the present day. James Lanier Williams was a member of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers. He visited many cities of the British Isles advocating the doctrine of the society. When William Penn received his land grant from King Charles, the four sons of James Lanier Williams emigrated to the province of Pennsylvania and their sons to Virginia, thence to North Carolina, where Amos Williams, the father of Allen Williams, and his older brothers were born, and who took an active part in the revolutionary war in behalf of the independence of the colonies. They were staunch Whigs, although their father was a Quaker and conscientiously opposed to war.

Amos Williams was an orthodox member of the church of the Society of Friends, and adhered to its doctrines as taught by Penn and Fox, but his sons were Whigs and not only did heroic service for American independence but fought under Jackson at New Orleans and in Florida in the second war for independence.

Amos Williams, the father of Allen Williams, died at the advanced age of 105 years. Allen Williams, the pioneer and ancestor of the numerous Williams family, emigrated from Overton county, Tenn., in 1816, and settled in Wayne county. In 1820 he settled just south of Edinburg, over in the edge of Bartholomew county, in sight of where his descendants held their reunion. Here his wife, Charity Nation Williams, died in 1826, and was buried in the Carvin cemetery. Some years later he moved on Hurricane creek, in Clark township, Johnson county, where he died in 1842 at a good old age and was buried in the family burying grounds on the old homestead. He lived to see all his children grown to manhood and womanhood and settled in comfortable homes of their own.

After the historical address short family histories were given by Joel Williams and S M Denison, the other six or seven who had been selected to give short family histories not being present. The old president, Rufus Williams; the secretary, H G Williams, and the old committees were continued for the coming year. Letters were read from relatives in Nebraska, Iowa and Wayne county, sending their regrets at not being able to attend the meeting. It was voted to hold the third annual reunion at the Edinburg fair grounds next year, the executive committee to fix the date. It is hoped that a larger number will be able to attend the next meeting. These reunions grow in interest and are the means of bringing together many who did not know they were related, and who never saw each other before, and others who had not met for years.

REUNION NOTES: John Rominger, wife and daughter, of near Hope, an old friend of the Williams family was present. M V B Ensley, an old neighbor and friend of the older members was in attendance. Henry Williams, wife and daughter, of Kokomo, were in attendance.