Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 203
J. D. WILLIAMS, a pioneer settler of Muscatine County, of 1842, residing on section 12, Cedar Township, is a native of Union County, Ind., born Feb. 16, 1821, and is the son of Anthony and Eleanore ( Fourdice) Williams. His parents had a family of twelve children: William and Jane, who are both deceased; Hepzibah, widow of Lot Duvall; Samuel, Joshua, James and AAron, deceased; J.D., of this sketch; John, a resident of Logansport, Ind.; B.F. is also living in Indiana;David, deceased; and Eliza, wife of William Cunningham, of Miami County, Ind. The death of Mr Williams occurred at his home in Indiana, in 1846, at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife departed this life in 1855, at the age of sixty-six years.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, and remained at home assisting his father in the labors of the farm until he was twenty-two years of age. Leaving his native State, he then made a trip through Illinois and Iowa, in 1842 and 1843, and in the latter State purchased eighty acres of land in Cedar Township, Muscatine County. Returning to his home, he then took charge of a pottery,which had been left to his sister by her husband, Mr. Duvall, who had died, and remained in charge for eight years, after which he entered the mercantile business, continuing in that line for five years, when he sold out, and in 1850 again emigrated to Iowa. Purchasing forty acres of land adjoining the tract to which he had become an owner when making his trip in 1842, he embarked in agricultural pursuits, and has carried on general farming continuously since. Many improvements he has made upon the farm, and his land is now under a high state of cultivation. In 1864 he made a trip to Montana, where he remained until the folloeing year, returning to his home Dec. 14, 1865, when he again resumed farming. In 1888 he suffered loss by fire, his residence burning to the ground on the 17th of May.

Mr Williams was united in marriage in Indiana, Oct. 28, 1852, with Miss Lucy Ann Burges, a daughter of Joseph and Adda Eliza (Johnson) Burges, who were the parents of two children: Lucy Ann, born in 1835, and Caroline A., born in 1837. The latter became the wife of John Wilson. Their maternal grandfather was a captain in the War of 1812. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Williams eleven children have been born: Mary E., born Aug 13, 1853, wedded David E. Kerr. who died May 24, 1877, after which she became the wife of Isaac Shellabarger, a resident of Letts, Louisa County, and is the mother of four children, three of whom are living, and one of that number being by her second husband; Florence E., born Oct. 3, 1855, died Nov. 29, 1870; John F., born Oct. 28, 1857, is now living in Muscatine County; Samuel E., born Feb. 19, 1860, is a resident of White Sulphur Springs, Mont.;Kate M., wife of George Hawkins, was born June 9, 1862, and is living in Muscatine County, and is the mother of one child, Isaac Franklin, born March 3, 1887 ; Ida May,born May 19, 1864, and Jesse F., born Sept. 16, 1866, were playing in a granary when it caught fire and were burned to death, this sad event occurring July 13, 1874; Edith A., born June 17, 1868, is a teacher in Muscatine County; Della J., born April 17,1871, is engaged in dressmaking in Muscatine; Ina E., born Dec.27, 1875, and Monroe E., Sept. 2, 1882 are both at home. Socially, Mr. Williams is a member of two fraternities, the Masonic and the Odd Fellows, while politically, he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

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