For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 749
JOHN FRANKLIN WILLIAMS....A leading farmer of Cedar township, John Franklin Williams owes his success to a worthy ambition which he has wisely fostered so that today he owns a fine farm of two hundred and sixty three and one-half acres in one of the richest agricultural belts of the state. He is justly entitled to his reputation as one of the substantial men of the county. Born in Union county, Indiana, October 28, 1857, he is a son of Joseph D. and Lucy A. ( Burgess ) Williams, also natives of Union county.Joseph D. Williams was born in Union county, Indiana, on the 16th of February, 1821, and was one of a family of twelve children, his grandparents being Anthony and Eleanore ( Fourdice ) Williams. The grandfather of our subject died in the Hoosier state in 1848, at the ripe old age of seventy-four years. Until twenty-two years of age Joseph D. Williams remained with his parents, but in 1842 and 1843 made a trip through Illinois and Iowa and finally purchased eighty acres of land in Cedar township, this county. Returning to his old home in Indiana, he then took charge of a pottery which had been left his widowed sister, Mrs. Durvall, and he remained in charge of the same for eight years. He subsequently engaged in the mercantile business for some time and on selling out in 1850 came to Iowa and bought forty acres of land adjoining his first purchase. Upon this farm he then continued to reside, devoting his time and energies to agricultural pursuits, until his death, which occurred February 16, 1892.
On the 28th of October, 1852, in Indiana, was celebrated the marriage of Joseph D. Williams and Miss Lucy Ann Burgess, a daughter of Josephine and Adda Eliza ( Johnson ) Burgess and a granddaughter of William and Caroline A. Burgess. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Mary E., born August 13, 1853, married David E. Kerr, who died May 24, 1877, and for her second husband she wedded Isaac Shellabarger, of Louise county, Iowa. Of the four children born of the first marriage three are living and one by the second marriage. Florence E., born October 3, 1855, died November 29, 1870. John F., the subject of this sketch, is next in order of birth. Samuel C., born February 19, 1860, is a resident of Illinois. Kate M., born June 9, 1862, is the wife of George Hawkins, of this county, and has one child. Ida May, born May 19, 1864, and Jesse F., born September 16, 1866, were playing in a building when it caught fire and both burned to death July 13, 1874. The other members of the family are : Edith A., born June 17, 1868 ; Della J, born April 17, 1871 ; Ida E., born December 27, 1875 ; and Monroe C., born September 2, 1882. The father of these children was a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.
John F. Williams continued under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when he began farming on his own account by renting land and two years later purchased forty acres in Cedar township, Muscatine county. By the exercise of energy and good judgment in his calling he was able largely to increase the size and value of his property and the farm which he now owns is one of the very desirable landed possessions of the region. He has made many improvements and in his work uses the best improved machinery. He has been especially successful in raising and marketing a good grade of hogs but he also gives attention to other farm animals and in addition to this he is a large raiser of grain. He is interested in town property in Muscatine and at Letts and is a stockholder of the Muscatine State Bank.
On the 6th of March, 1881, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Williametta Epperly, who was born in Muscatine county, March 28, 1863, a daughter of William and Lucretia ( Fry ) Epperly, the father being a native of Indiana and the mother of Wisconsin. The parents were married in Muscatine county, where Mr. Epperly for many years was actively interested in farming. He retired in 1900 and now lives in Muscatine. His first wife passed away in June, 1870, and Mr. Epperly was again married, the lady of his choice being Elizabeth R. Shellabarger, of Ohio. Three children were born of the first union, namely : Williametta, now Mrs. Williams ; Jared J., of Oregon ; and Margaret Ann, now the wife of John Schulte, of Quincy, Illinois. By the second marriage of Mr. Epperly, two children were born : Harry G., now living on a farm in Cedar township ; and Ethel, the wife of Bruce Jackson, of Muscatine.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three children. Edith Estella, born November 8, 1883, was educated in the high school and is now the wife of Cornell Uhr, a carpenter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have three children living : Williametta May, born May 11, 1903 ; and Marvin and Mabel, twins, born in December, 1907. Harley Edwin, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, was born September 29, 1886. He received a business-college education and was married in December, 1905, to Miss Isola Wadkins, of Nichols, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Hattie ( May ) Wadkins, who are natives of Iowa and Michigan respectively. One child, whose natal day was November 4, 1906, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harley E. Williams. The father now has charge of part of the family homestead. Isaac, the third child, was born September 4, 1891. He received the advantage of a course in a business college and now lives in Muscatine. He was married April 27, 1909, to Miss Mildred Heller, who was born in Muscatine in 1891 and is a daughter of Charles and Fanny ( Mathews ) Heller, who were parents of six children, four of whom are now living, namely : Martha, Harriet, Adelaide and Mildred. One child, Adelaide Jane, born September 20, 1910, came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Williams.
John F. Williams is a sincere advocate of education, as is indicated by the school advantages given his children, thus greatly assisting them in working out the problems of life. He is also an active worker in the promotion of good fellowship and his home is a center of hospitality, where friends and acquaintances are accorded a cordial greeting. Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No. 4783., of Letts, and politically he is identified with the republican party. He and his family are members in good standing of the United Brethren church.
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