Alpheus F. Williams, s/o Oliver and Mary Williams, b. concord, MA, 12 Nov 1812, died Oakland, CA, [date not given], m. Miss Ann Simpson at Saginaw City.
Biog. sketch by his brother Ephraim Smith Williams calls him Col. States he went to CA in the gold rush, and was one of the first men to build mining ditches in CA. Was an orig. owner in the Blue Gravel Co. Made a fortune & retired to MI, but again went west, engaged in mining in Nevada Sierra, and other northern counties in CA, making his home in Oakland, where he was among the first residents "and contributed materially to its development". At age 70 organized a prospecting trip to Alaska, but shipwrecked and suffered from exposure. Died 2 years later, not having heard news of a second such expedition, which he helped organize. He was 32 degree AA Scottish Rite Mason.
