William 'Billy' Williams (1840 - 1931)

WILLIAMS, MCDONALD, SPERRY, PAINTER, BAIRD

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 11/30/2021 at 10:39:45

The Osceola Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
December 31, 1931 , page 1

The funeral of William Williams, who died Wednesday evening, December 23rd, was held Saturday afternoon in the parlors of the Webster Funeral Home, under the direction of Rev. Cook of the Methodist Episcopal church. The attendance was large for the deceased was a very popular man.

The burial rites were in charge of the Legion, military honors being accorded this veteran of the Civil war. The flag which draped the casket was placed there by the local Legion post, whose obligation it is to recognize the soldiers with this testimonial from the government.

Six of the Legion members served as pall bearers, Bob Klllmar, Olin Monroe, E.H. Holden, Ross Thrasher , Joe Banker and William Polley. At the grave the firing squad sounded the farewell to a patriot whose services to the country as a citizen and soldier will be long remembered.

The guard of honor at cemetery was composed of Color Bearer Lloyd Woods, John Alvis, Color Guards Rollie Glenn and Claude Clarke, and Bugler Joseph Scott. The firing squad was commanded by H. R. Klautsch, with Ross See, Leonard Saddoris, Olin Kelly. Ben Miller, William Irwin, Lloyd Miller, Harry Funston, and Lyle Foster constituting the members.

The deceased was one of the most popular men in this community and his life’s story covered more than ninety one years all but thirteen spent in Clarke county. Never a very robust man he nevertheless endured the hardships of pioneer life and gave hard and conscientious service to his country in the time of need. He looked upon life as an experience which could be turned to good or bad and he chose to travel a road marked by generosity, good will toward his fellow men and charity to all. The long road was a pleasant one to him and if he had regrets he never expressed them in derision or in criticism of those with whom he was associated. He was precise, exact and just and the going down of his sun was accompanied by the sorrows of hundreds of friends and especially those to whom he had been kind.

The story of his life is best told in the obituary read by Rev. Cook at the funeral.
The birth of W.W. Williams occurred May 15, 1840, making him 91 years, 7 months and 8 days of age when death took place December 23, 1931. His birth place was Coshocton, Ohio, the state of which his parents, James and Sarah Williams, were natives. His death came at his residence in Osceola.

When he was 4 years of age his mother died. Remaining with his father until he was 13, they came to Clarke county with Garner Hunt, with whom he lived until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then enlisted in Company I, Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Infantry, which belonged to the army of Tennessee. His first engagement was at the battle of Shiloh. In the early part of the battle he had command of a squad of 16 men, who carried ammunition from a boat. But 12 of the men survived the battle. He participated in 31 battles and after the battle of Atlanta was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, after which he was ordered to Washington for the Grand Review. Here he was given command of his company, and was then ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, thence to Davenport where he was mustered out July 24, 1865, having served 3 years and 10 months. He then returned to Osceola.

In 1864 he was married to Miss Eliza McDonald, of Keokuk, Iowa, and a native of Virginia. After his return from the war he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a couple of years and then came to Osceola, where he engaged in the livery business with J.M. Ball as partner. Eight years were devoted to this industry and he was then appointed deputy sheriff for J.M. Ballou, serving for 4 years. He was then appointed government storekeeper at Atlantic, Ia., where he remained until the store was abolished. In 1883 he was again appointed deputy sheriff. From 1886 to 1892 he was the sheriff of Clarke county.

His wife died some years ago. There were three children. Two have passed on. They were Adel Sperry and Nellie May Painter. The surviving daughter is Sophronia. There are two grandchildren. They are Mrs. Frank Baird and W.C. Painter. There are also three great-grandchildren. They are Harriet, Clement and Joanna Baird.

Mr. Williams was a member of the Knights of Phythias. He served as vice president of the Clarke County Agricultural Society. He was the Grand Marshal for the Iowa State fair for many years and was said to be one of the best know men in this capacity in the state. He was captain of the national guard here for several years and no parade was ever considered complete without W.W. Williams riding at its head. In 1929, when he was nearing his 90th birthday, he road at the head of the Forth of July parade. It was said of him that he was one of the best managers of a saddle horse known in these parts. For years he led the grand parades at the Iowa State fair, in the style shows, always making his steed respond to the treatment that only he could administer. He was a lover of horses, racing by horses, both saddle and harness, and could always be found where fine horses were to be seen.

He has been called one of Clarke county’s greatest patriots. He never accumulated any money, never caring for it as such. He drew a pension from the government, but his most delightful expenditure of it as for someone he thought needed it. No family ever went without food if he knew it and could prevent it with his own means. There are those who have called him one of the most useful citizens Clarke county has had. Whatever might be the unanimity of this verdict it may be said with a reasonable degree of accuracy that no man in the county had more friends than W.W. Williams. To know him was to love him. To be acquainted with him was an honor.

The Osceola Tribune, Osceola, Iowa
December 29, 1931 , page 1

PIONEER SOLDIER CALLED TO REST
Taps Sounded For William Williams Saturday with Military Honors

"Billy" Williams is no more. He passed from this life Wednesday evening, December 23, after a brief illness, at the age of 91 years. Every one affectionately called him "Billy." He might have been saluted as Colonel, or Major, or Captain, but he preferred to be called "Billy." He lived a long time and his life, filled with so much of historical interest, was as a connecting link with the pioneer days, for he was one of the early comers to Clarke county. He was a fountain of information about all things bearing upon the early history of Clarke county, for he had been in intimate touch with the days when the events transpired. He was a generous and kindly man, whose going is deeply regretted.

The funeral was held Saturday afternoon at the Webster Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. Cook of the Methodist Episcopal church. The American Legion had charge of the burial. He was entitled to and received the honors due a soldier, for he was a veteran of the Civil War. A flag draped the casket, the contribution of the government in recognition of his services as a soldier. This is a recognition accorded all soldiers of whatever war, the flags in the keeping of the post office for distribution as required.
His life's story is best told in a letter he wrote, published in the Sentinel in December, 1928. The letter has date of December 22.

The trail I have been following these 88 years began in Garner county, Ohio, May 15, 1840, when an old fashioned nurse said to Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Williams, "He's a boy." They called me William and the journey of life for me was begun. When I was nine years old, soon after my mother's death, my father and I joined a party of emigrants in covered wagons, sponsored by Garner Hunt, enroute to the far west. I say “far west" because it was a long trail with wagons drawn by oxen from Ohio to Iowa in those days.

We landed in the village of Osceola June 16, 1856. Some of the old timers remember what the county seat looked like in those days. We went out to the Garner Hunt land. and my trail wound around with the sod plow and over and about the virgin prairie among the wild flowers, with a call of a turkey, the coo of the wild chickens and the howl of a wolf as nature's orchestra.

I was to return with my father to Ohio, but owing to my health condition I was permitted to remain in the west with my good friend always, Garner Hunt.

When the Civil War broke out I enlisted in the 15th Iowa Infantry. We were in thirty-one engagements, including Shiloh, and ending with Sherman's march to the sea and the grand review in Washington, D. C.

After the war I lived on Garner Hunt's farm two years, then I engaged in the livery business in Osceola. Later, as deputy sheriff I served with Sheriffs Rankin, Bonar and Ballou , in all, thirteen years as deputy and bailiff.

On the long trail I met and loved a lassie, and we traveled together along life's pathway for a number of years—very short but very happy years they were. When she bade me goodbye and her spirit took its flight the pathway of sunshine became one of shadows and I was very unhappy. Three daughters were left to cheer and comfort me, one of whom makes my present home possible, comfortable and happy.

When I look back over the rugged pathway by which I have come, I realize that it was a long way, indeed a very long way, measured by a lifetime, from 1840 to 1928; but not too long when one makes the most of life. With the companionship of members of a loyal family circle and comrades of the war, and with a world of friends besides, here and elsewhere, to hold in grateful remembrance, and with a good home and the necessary comforts of life and with health to enjoy it all. I have just passed a delightful Christmas, and am anticipating my 88th New Year's Day wishing a Happy New Year to one and all.

As a supplement to his story the Clarke county history says his first battle was Shiloh where he had command of sixteen men, engaged in carrying ammunition from a boat to the hard pressed Union troops. He lost ten men. Just before the Atlanta campaign he was promoted to second lieutenant and had thirty-seven men in his command. Thirty were lost, in the engagements which followed.

In 1864 he married Miss Eliza McDonald of Keokuk, Iowa, and a native of Virginia. The three daughters born to them were Della, Sophrona and Nellie May.

gravestone photo at Findagrave
 

Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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