Person:George Williams (75)

resided in Douglas co., KS

GEORGE H. WILLIAMS. Rock Township. 1901 BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. [JULY 1870.] PAGE 206. GEORGE H. WILLIAMS was a prominent merchant of Rock, Kansas, and served as postmaster of the village for the past twenty-five years [1901]. He was a resident of the Sunflower State since 1855, although he did not locate in Cowley County until July, 1870. George H. Williams was born August 22, 1846, on Grand Island, Lake Superior, a son of John W. and Amanda J. Williams. His father, John W. Williams, was a native of the state of New York, and his wife was born in Fulton County, Illinois. They were married in Michigan, where they resided until October, 1850, when they moved to Fulton County, Illinois. In 1855, they located in Kansas, where Mr. Williams engaged in farming. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation many years. He died June 1, 1885, and his widow died at Rock, in March, 1898. They reared the following children: George H.; Stephen D., who died in Douglass, Kansas, in 1894; Justus F., who was a stock raiser, and resided in Wyoming; John F., who was a farmer and stock breeder, and resided in Osage County, Kansas; Christopher V., who was a harness maker, and lived in Osage County, Kansas; Ella J., deceased, who was the wife of Peter Taylor; Ida E., who was the wife of T. Stephens, of Lawrence, Kansas; Abraham L., who was a stone mason; Limon P., who resided near Rock, Kansas, and was a gardener; Arthur W., who was a farmer in Kansas; and Floyd E., who was a farmer of Lyon County, Kansas. Mr. George H. Williams attended the state university at Lawrence, Kansas, and made his home with his parents until he attained the age of twenty-two years. He then taught school two terms in Douglas County, Kansas, and then taught private school in Cowley County. On July 11, 1870, he took up the northeast quarter of section 28, Rock Township. As it was all raw prairie, much labor was required to get it under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Williams built a house 12 by 14 feet, in size, and in April, 1871, he was joined by his family. That year he broke five acres, which he put into corn, and the next year he planted five more acres, and from 10 acres raised an average of 50 bushels of corn per acre. Mr. Williams lived on the place until 1874, when, in partnership with John Worthington, he engaged in the general merchandising business. In 1878, he bought out Mr. Worthington by conveying his farm for the latter’s share in the business. Since 1882, this farm was in the possession of Albert Abbott. Mr. Williams continued in business alone and gained a large patronage. In 1875 he was appointed postmaster, and had continuous charge of the Rock post office. He served as justice of the peace from 1873 to 1875, was township trustee in 1873, and also acted as notary public. He was a Republican, and in 1901 held the office of township treasurer. Mr. Williams was married December 17, 1868, to Sarah J. Coon, of Henry County, Indiana, a daughter of Eli and Margaret (Morrison) Coon, and they had the following children. 1. Laura May, who was the wife of W. H. Widener, a farmer of Rock Township. 2. George C., a farmer in Rock Township, who married Nora Hollingsworth. 3. Lola Inez, who was the wife of H. C. Widener, of Arkansas City. 4. Bird, who was the wife of Charles Hornaday, of Rock Township. 5. Eunice, who died in 1881. [Tombstone at the cemetery say 1879] Mr. Williams belonged to the order of F. & A. M.—Lodge No. 151, A. F. & A. M., of Douglass; Chapter No. 57, R. A. M., of Douglass; and Commandery, No. 15, K. T., of Winfield. He was a director of the Winfield National Bank, in which he had 10 shares; and vice-president of the Exchange State Bank of Douglass, in which he held two shares.