Henry H. Williamson, farmer and broom manufacturer, section 12, Boardman Township, was born in Grand Isle County, Vt., Sept. 6, 1839. His father, John Williamson, is a native of Ireland, born Feb. 26, 1797, and emigrated to America when twenty years of age, and settled in Grand Isle County, Vt., where he married Mary A. Brown, on Sept. 24, 1823. In 1851 the family came to Clayton County, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides, in Boardman Township. In September, 1866, Henry H. Williamson and Mary H. Williams, of New York, were united in marriage. Five children blessed their union, viz.: Curtis, Hellen, Herbert, Clara and Bernice. Mrs. Mary H. Williamson died April 12, 1877, and Feb. 9, 1881, he married Mrs. Mary A. Howard, nee Miles, of Wyoming County, N.Y. Her parents were Daniel and Harriet (Hoyt) Miles. She had two children by her first husband-- Alice and Hattie Howard. Mr. Williamson owns 200 acres of land, 80 in timber and the remainder under cultivation. He buiilt the first and only broom factory in the county, and still operates it. In politics he is a Republican. His father died in Clayton County, May 20, 1875; his
mother Dec. 25, 1842. The former was the oldest Mason,
and organized the first lodge in the county. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 677 |