Williams, Guy H.

WILLIAMS, EVANS, DAVIS, RICKER, FULLERTON, SHIPP

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/12/2019 at 05:04:06

GUY H. WILLIAMS

Guy H. Williams, a prosperous farmer of Richland township, was born in Johnson county, Iowa on the 9th of March, 1872. His father, Richard L. Williams, was a native of Wales, born September 12, 1825. In 1844, when a young man of nineteen years, he located in Syracuse, New York. He was without resources and turned his hand to whatever honest employment could be found. In 1857 he entered land in Fremont township, Johnson county, Iowa, fourteen miles south of Iowa City. He had saved quite a good sum of money and at once began the improvement of his farm. He followed general farming and stock-raising and became in time the owner of two hundred and eighty acres in Johnson county and two hundred and forty acres in Richland township, Decatur county. He was a republican and was honored by election to a number of township offices. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He retired from his farm in Johnson county about 1895 and died on the 16th of August, 1910, when eighty-four years of age. He was married in New York state on the 9th of October, 1855, to Miss Mary Jane Evans, who was a native of Madison county, New York, born June 22, 1831, and a daughter of John Evans, native of Wales. Mrs. Williams passed away in Iowa on the 20th of May, 1904. She was the mother of five children: Mabel, who died in 1875 when nineteen years of age; J. L., who was an inventor, and died when twenty-two years of age; Maud, who was born ay 3, 1866, and is now the wife of John Davis, a real-estate dealer of Mount Ayr; Jessie, who was born in 1869, and married A. W. Ricker, of New York city, a magazine writer; and Guy H.

The last named was reared upon the homestead and after completing the common-school course attended the high school at Lone Tree. He was early trained to agricultural work and was an efficient farmer by the time that he reached mature years. He cultivated land in Johnson county until 1901, when he removed to two hundred and forty acres in Richland township belonging to his father. The farm is now owned by our subject and his sister, Mrs. Ricker. Mr. Williams takes rank with the more progressive farmers of his township and everything about his place is kept in excellent condition. He follows general farming and stock-raising and his labors yield him a handsome annual income.

Mr. Williams was married in December, 1905, to Miss Sarilda Fullerton, who was born in Richland township on the 21st of March, 1880, and is a daughter of Thomas and Armilda Jane (Shipp) Fullerton, an account of whose lives appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Williams is a supporter of the republican party but is not a pronounced partisan, placing the public welfare above mere party success. His wife belongs to the Christian church. Both cooperate with movements seeking the advancement of their community and have the unqualified respect of all who know them.