Charles Williams

WILLIAMS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/1/2010 at 19:16:11

Charles Williams a conductor on the Northwestern Railroad in the passenger service between Boone and Omaha, has filled this position since 1890 and has been connected with railroad work since 1878, or for a period of more than thirty-five years. He was born in Danby, Du Page county, Illinois, March 1, 1862, and when he was nine years of age his parents removed with their family to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. His father, Henry William was born in Pennsylvania and was a shoemaker by trade. He married Miss Caroline Cramer, and both are now deceased, having spent their last days in Lincoln county, Wisconsin. Their children were: Charles of this review, Emma the wife of Reuben Hess a resident of Morley, Wisconsin, Fred living in Antigo, that state, and Alvina the wife of George Wyant, of Bloomville, Lincoln county, Wisconsin. The ancestors of the family came from Wales although representatives of the name have long been established in America.
Between the ages of nine and sixteen years Charles Williams was a pupil in the schools of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and during the periods of vacation he was employed in a brick yard and lumber office, thus earning his living when a young lad. After putting aside his text books at the age of sixteen yeas he became connected with the Milwaukee division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company in 1878 as a fence builder and later was employed at shoveling gravel on a gravel train. He was afterward brakeman but in the fall of 1883 he left eh Northwester and entered the employ of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company, with which he continued as brakeman until June 1884. He then came to Boone and entered the employ of the Northwestern brakeman, acting in that capacity until 1890, when he was promoted to conductor Thus he has gradually worked his way upward. His promotions have come as a recognition of his faithfulness and capability, and thus step by step he has advanced until for almost a quarter of a century he has been a passenger conductor on the Northwestern between Boone and Omaha. He is always courteous and obliging official, carefully watching over the interests of the patrons of the road and at the same time closely safeguarding the interests of the corporation which he represents. On November 1, 1889, MR Williams was married Boone to Miss Sarah Stewart of this city, a daughter of George W and Lucinda (Hall) Stewart. Both the Stewarts and Halls were old Virginia families. Unto Mr and Mrs Williams have been born three children. Leone married Horace Sturty, who died in January 1913. She is living at home and has one child, Iona. Clara is the wife of Arthur Nyberg, ad they have one child, Carl William. Charles Stewart is the youngest of the family. The parents are member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Boone and are loyal to its teachings.
Mr Williams votes with the democratic party but is not strongly partisan, for when his judgment dictates he casts an independent ballot. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen at Boone and is the only original member of the lodge who has never been transferred nor held membership elsewhere for a period. He joined in 1886 and is now a past president. He is well known in railway Riceland among the citizens of Boone, and his worth in business connections as well as his many sterling traits of character have gained for him the warm and enduring regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

1914 Boone County History Book