Seneca Williams (1822-1905)

WILLIAMS, TRUAX, FRENCH, PERHAM, WILLIAMS, SUTHERS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/17/2014 at 16:24:53

Maquoketa Record, Dec. 6, 1905

Seneca Williams was born at North Argyle, Washington County, New York, Nov. 7, 1822 and died at Maquoketa, Iowa, Dec. 3, 1905, aged 83 years, 26 days. He came west in the year 1850, and purchased a farm near what is now Delmar in Clinton County. He was married the following spring to Miss Cordelia Truax of Maquoketa, and moved upon and occupied the farm until the year 1860 when he moved to Maquoketa and engaged in the livery business with H. H. French for a short time, and then entered into the mercantile business, which he continued for several years, finally closing out and engaging in the milling business, which he continued up to within a few years of his death.

He was engaged in several public enterprises, among which was an attempt to navigate the Maquoketa River, and for which he with R. Perham built a steamboat, it was thought, would be adapted to that purpose, but which it was found was not, and entailed great loss to its builders. He was a good, honest, upright, businessman, but the losses he sustained in steamboating, and in milling, placed him in straightened circumstances during the past few years of his life. He had been declining in health and strength for several months from ailments incident to old age and after being assisted to his chair on Sunday morning soon passed quietly away.

His wife died in 1864 and from their union there survive two daughters, Eliza J. Williams, who was his housekeeper, and Hattie C. Suthers. He also left surviving, one brother, Robert Williams of Waterloo, Iowa and one sister, Mrs. Harrriet Johnson of Elwood, Illinois. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. George C. Chandler at the Baptist Church at 2 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday and the remains were interred in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Seneca Williams grave
 

Jackson Obituaries maintained by Nettie Mae Lucas.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen