John Williams

HODSON, LAMBELIN, STANLEY, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 1/7/2010 at 16:09:16

A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

John Williams whose abiding place is on section 1, Penn township, Madison county, Iowa, and who is ranked with the venerable citizens and farmers of this vicinity, was born in Orange county, Indiana, December 28, 1817.

His father, also named John Williams, and by occupation a farmer, was born in North Carolina, the son of a Welshman. As far back as we are able to trace the history of the Williams family we find them to be Quakers and people of sterling integrity. The mother of our subject was by maiden name Miss Rachel Hodson. She was born and reared in North Carolina, a daughter of Robert Hodson, a member of a Quaker family supposed to be of English origin. John and Rachel Williams were the parents of seven children, and the subject of our sketch is now the only representative of the family living.

Mr. Williams was reared in his native place and remained there until 1854, when he moved to Jasper county, Iowa, and located on a farm in the eastern part of the county, or rather, on a tract of wild prairie land which he developed into a farm. There he made his home until about 1881, the time of his removal to Madison county, and since that date he has resided on his present farm, a desirable place comprising 160 acres.

In 1839, Mr. Williams married Miss Anna Lambelin, a native of Indiana, who died in 1863. She was the mother of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, of whom ten grew to maturity, namely: Belinda, born in 1840, is the wife of David Stanley, Jasper county, Iowa; Isaac, born in 1842, is deceased; Isaiah, born in 1843, is a resident of California; Wilford, born in 1845, lives in Jasper county, Iowa; Daniel S., born in 1847, is deceased; Rachel, born in 1849; is deceased; William R., born in 1851, is a resident of Jasper county, Iowa; Robert L., born in 1853, is deceased; James A., born in 1855, lives in Jasper county; John S., born in 1859; Mary E. And Thomas E., twins, were born in 1861, and the former is deceased; and Anna, born in 1863, is deceased.

Like his worthy forefathers, Mr. Williams is a stanch member of the Society of Friends, and in this faith has reared his family. His political views are those advocated by the Republican party.

Such in brief, is a sketch of the life of one of Iowa’s pioneers, a man who has spent over forty years of his life in this State, and who is as highly respected as he is well known.