Stephen Williams

WILLIAMS

Posted By: Laura McCoy (email)
Date: 11/15/2011 at 09:28:27

This morning Wednesday Feb. 23 at 2 O'clock occurred the death of Stephen Williams at the home of his daughter Mrs. Lorena Broderson at the age of 80 years 18 days. His death was caused by an infection of the jaw with which he had been afflicted for the past year. he was able to be up and around most of the time being confined to his bed only since Tuesday. The subject of our sketch was born in Castle Island, County Kerry, Ireland Feb. 6 1836. He taught school for a few years in Ireland. He came to this country landing in New York June 27, 1854, and came direct to this vicinity. Nov. 9. 1859 was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane Case of Indiana who passed away Sept. 20, 1892. Since the death of his wife he made his home with children at Rockwell City up to eight months ago when he came to stay with his daughter Mrs. Boothby and coming up to his daughters Mrs. Broderson ten days ago. In August 1862 he enlisted in Co. J 26 Infantry Iowa but was not accepted because of physical disability. Mr. Williams was the father of ten children eight survive him namely Mrs. L. E. Marshall Rockwell City, Mrs. Lorena Broderson Charlotte, Mr. Joseph Williams, Des Moines, Mrs. Mary Boothby, Goose Lake, Mr. Waldo Williams, Rockwell City, Mrs. Gertrude Prentice, Sheldon, Mr. Obadiah Williams, Emmetsburg, Mrs. Jane Robb Garden City, S.D. He also leaves forty three grandchildren and nine great grandchildren living. He was one of the oldest settlers of this vicinity, he was a pioneer instructor of schools in eastern Iowa having taught fifty two years and came to this country when it was young before there was any Charlotte. Many of the old and middle aged residents of this town were his pupils. The records of his pioneer teaching were not kept. In conversation with the deceased a few years ago in speaking of things he was up against as a country teacher in early days he informed us that he and his pupils had to cut trees down, hew the trunks into slabs for seats and desks and at times had to manufacture his own ink from Sumac bark and his pens from goose quills and burning the midnight candle to keep ahead of his pupils. When a young man he united with the Christian church remain a faithful member unto the end. he was a poet of more than local fame. Served as road supervisor and was secretary of school ward more than twenty years. Interment in McClure cemetery, the funeral was held at his daughter's house in Charlotte Saturday at eleven o'clock.

Edith Benner (granddaughter to Stephen Williams, and raised by Stephen's daughter-in-law, Edith Crouch, Williams.) passed down oral information that Stephen Williams had a brother come with him to the United States, but then continued on to New Zealand.

Calhoun Obituaries maintained by Karon S. Valeu.
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