Squire B Williams

WILLIAMS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/11/2009 at 15:53:54

Squire B Williams who is numbered among the business men of Madrid, where he is actively connected with the grain trade, is one of Iowa’s native sons, indeed, Boone county claims him among her native citizens for his birth here occurred on May 13, 1860. He is a son of Benjamin Williams, a native of Kentucky, who removed to Indiana during his childhood, becoming a resident of Putnam county, where he was reared and educated. He also married there and in 1847 came to Iowa, settling in Boone county, where he purchased land which he cleared and developed, transforming the raw tract into a productive farm. Subsequently he sold that and purchased a place near Madrid and engaged there in farming and further improved that property. There he reared his family and made his home until he was called to his final rest in February 1883, when sixty-six years of age. He was three times married, his last marriage being to a widow, Mrs Elizabeth Goodrich, a daughter of Squire Boone, who was another of the early settlers of the county.
Squire B Williams, of this review, is one of a family of four children that reached mature years, born of the last marriage. He was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, pursuing his studies in the commons schools. He remained with his father upon the farm until after he had arrived at mans estate and was prepared to start out in life on his own account. He then followed farming for one year and a half when he became engaged in the livery business in Madrid, conducting that enterprise for four years. He was then appointed postmaster under President Cleveland and filled the position for one term in a manner which reflected credit upon himself and the office. Upon his retirement from that position he turned his attention to the grain business, becoming connected with the McFarland Grain Company, with which he was associated for twelve years, having the management of the business here. He then bought our an established business on August 1, 1900, and has since carried on the grain trade on his own account. He now makes extensive purchases and shipments, sending on a average of from 150 to 200 carloads of grain annually to the city markets. He is also a stockholder in the Madrid State Bank and is widely recognized as a business man of importance who carries forward to a successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On September 29, 1883, Mr Williams was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Bilsland, a daughter of John Bilsland. She was reared and educated in Boone county and has become the mother of two interesting children: Edna and Dorothy. Mr Williams is a stanch Democrat, having voted with the party since casting his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1884. In addition to filling the position of postmaster he has served as city treasurer for two years and was most loyal and faithful to the duties of his office. He has been a delegate to the county convention of his party. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, having become a mason in Star Lodge, No 115, F & A M. He has served as treasurer of the lodge for the past six years and in his life he shows forth the beneficent spirit of the fraternity, which is based upon brotherly kindness and mutual helpfulness. Both he and his wife are active and valued members of the Christian church and for ten years have sung in the choir. Mrs Williams has a fine soprano voice and is a noted vocalist o this locality. Both are held in high esteem throughout the community and their circle of friends is almost co extensive with the circle of their acquaintances.

1902 Boone County History Book