Edward J. Williams, 1857 - 1937

WILLIAMS, SOUTHALL, JEWETT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/2/2022 at 13:18:37

Pierson Progress
5 August 1937

Edward J. Williams, 80, succumbed to the infirmaries of age at the family home here early Sunday morning, August 1, 1937, following prolonged illness.

Born in Hazel Green, Grant Co., Wisconsin, February 21, 1857, Mr. Williams twenty years later arrived at Correctionville with his parents in 1882, an outpost town on the rim of a sparsely inhabited prairie. The journey was made by a covered wagon which bore the entire worldly possessions of the family. Temporary quarters were established at Correctionville, the Williams making their abode in their schooner until the Northwestern Railroad had pushed beyond Pierson and gave promise of an influx of settlers for this locality. Being in the vanguard to look over the territory, they chose a fertile unimproved tract of land in Grand Meadow Township northeast of Pierson, and paid the government $6 an acre. They set to work and erected a story and a half dwelling, doing all finishing work by the skill of their own labor. In 1902 Mr. Williams married Jennie Southall. In 1903 he entered the elevator business in partnership with Burnell J. Southall. After selling his interest to his junior partner in 1905 he entered into partnership with G.P. McGraw, Pierson's pioneer merchant, operating a general store under the caption of McGraw & Williams, located in the site of the present IOOF building.

Following the disastrous fire which wiped out the entire business block in Pierson in 1909, the firm then purchased the stock of J.H. Keyes and moved into the New Farmers Savings Bank building upon its completion. He retired in 1917 from active life to live quietly at home. One of Mr. Williams' outstanding hobbies was music.

He was a member of Pierson's first organized band in 1892 and was a member of the Church of Christ quartet for many years. He was a staunch supporter of the church and a member of the Pierson IOOF Lodge, holding every office from highest to lowest in his twenty-five years participation.

Survivors include the widow, a daughter, Mrs. Ben Nannen of Pierson, a son Harold Williams of Washington, Iowa, and a daughter by a former marriage, Mrs. Ila Kitson of Paton, a brother, J.H. Williams of Sioux City, a sister, Mrs. Hester Fuller of Grand Meadow.

A son, John, Jr., preceded him in death in 1928 at the age of 25.

Funeral services were held at the home at 2 p.m. and at the Church of Christ at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday with Rev. Edwin Hignett officiating. Interment was in Good Hope Cemetery under direction of Osborn Funeral Home of Pierson.
ILA Williams Kitson, Edward John's daughter was raised by Edward's sister Hester Williams Fuller and Ambrose Adelbert Fuller, after the death of his first wife Georgia Harriet Jewett Williams in 1895.