G[eorge]. W[ashington]. WILLIAMS, Postoffice, Goshen, engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 25, Lincoln Township, was born in Maryland, November 7, 1827, a son of William and Anna (CORSON) WILLIAMS, the father being a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Maryland. G. W., our subject was reared to agriculturial pursuits, of which he has followed the greater part of his life.

At the age of twenty-one years he began clerking in a dry-goods store, which he followed three years. December 5, 1851 [Armstrong County, Pennsylvania], he was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta NULPH, who was born in Pennsylvania, February 6, 1831, her parents, George C. and Barbara NULPH, being natives of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS have been born nine children - Francis A., born April 4, 1852; George A., born April 3, 1853; M. C. (sic, should be William C.), born April 3, 1855. Martha L[ouise]., born May 5, 1857; Alice H., born February 4, 1859; Mary F., born January 27, 1861; John E., born February 18, 1863; A[ugustus]. H., born February 16, 1865; and C[atherine]. A., born March 30, 1867.

Mr. WILLIAMS came to Ringgold County, Iowa, in an early day, being among the first settlers of Jefferson Township, where he first located. There he endured many of the hardships and privations incident to the life of a pioneer, going to St. Joseph, Missouri, for provisions, which took six days to make the trip, grinding his flour (buckwheat) in a coffee mill, the nearest mill being at Osceola. His first house in Ringgold County was a rude log cabin with puncheon floor.

He came to Lincoln Township with his family in 1878, when he settled on the farm where he has since made his home; here he has 160 acres of well-cultivated land, and good residence and farm-buildings, and is now classed among Ringgold County's best farmers.

In politics Mr. WILLIAMS is a Democrat. Since coming to Lincoln Township he has served as school director, and also as president of the School Board. Mrs. WILLIAMS is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

NOTE: George Casper NULPH was born April 4, 1801, Nescopek Township of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and died in October 20, 1878, Shannon City, Union County, Iowa, aged 77 years. George's parents were Casper NOLF, born 1771, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and died 1886, Eddyville, Pennsylvania; and Eve (HETRICK) NOLF, born 1780, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and died 1869 Red Rock, Pennsylvania. Barbara (MERCER) NULPH, daughter of Joseph MERCER (1781-1864) and Anna Barbara (MILLIRON) MERCER (1783-1839), was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on February 12, 1804. Barbara died on October 3, 1860, aged 58 years old, in Jefferson Township of Ringgold County, Iowa. George and Barbara were interred at Union Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

George WASHINGTON WILLIAMS served with Company C of the Southern Border Brigade during the Civil War. George died on November 27, 1907, Lincoln Township of Ringgold County, Iowa. Henrietta (NULPH) WILLIAMS was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on February 6, 1831, and died in March 15, 1912, Knowlton, Ringgold County, Iowa. George and Henrietta were interred at Union Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. George and Henrietta were the parents of nine children:

1) Francis A. WILLIAMS, born 04 Apr 1852, Ringgold Co. IA; died 08 Apr 1857, Knowlton IA

2) George A. WILLIAMS, born 03 Apr 1853, Ringgold Co. IA

3) William Carson WILLIAMS, born 03 Apr 1855, Ringgold Co. IA; died 23 Aug 1941, Diagonal IA
    interment Union Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 02 Sep 1882, Topeka KS Annie LEWIS, born 16 Jun 1858, NY; died 13 Nov 1926, Diagonal
    Child: Carson W. WILLIAMS, born 19 Dec 1891, Knowlton IA; died 03 Jan 1960, Mount Ayr IA

4) Martha Louise WILLIAMS, born 05 May 1857, Ringgold Co. IA; died 06 Dec 1929, Clearfield IA
    interment Clearfield Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 12 Oct 1876, IA James Lacey PARKINS
    Children:
      1) George W. PARKINS, born 30 Sep 1877, Clearfield IA; died 27 Feb 1944
          married 1897 Nellie Ann GREEN (1878-1953)
          Child: Ruth PARKINS married 1934 Jack O'BRIEN (1894-1941)
      2) Frank PARKINS, born 25 Sep 1879, Clearfield IA; died 07 Oct 1955
      3) Henrietta "Etta" PARKINS, born 04 Feb 1882, Clearfield IA; died 1974, Clearfield IA
          interment Clearfield Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
          married 1st Sam CHILTON on 21 Jun 1905
          married 2nd Tad WILLEY
          married 3rd Seth FOSMIRE
      4) Floyd L. PARKINS, born 12 Oct 1883, Clearfield IA
      5) Katherine Arminna "Minnie" PARKINS
          born 12 Mar 1886, Clearfield IA; died 06 Apr 1963, Des Moines IA
          married 1906 Fred Wallace DOWELL (1886-1957)
          Minnie and Fred interred Clearfield Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
          Children: Mary Louise, Pherrin Charles, and Simeon Gordon DOWELL
      6) William A. PARKINS, born 16 Oct 1889, Clearfield IA

5) Alice H. WILLIAMS, born 04 Feb 1859, Ringgold Co. IA; died circa 1889
    married Gustin LININGER; Child: Ellis LININGER

6) Mary F. WILLIAMS, born 27 Jan 1861, Ringgold Co. IA; died 04 Apr 1861, Ringgold Co. IA

7) John E. WILLIAMS, born 18 Feb 1863, Ringgold Co. IA; died 06 Feb 1921, Thayer KS
    married 05 Feb 1921 Mary HUFFMAN
    Children: Minnie, Marie, and Lillian WILLIAMS

8) Augustus H. WILLIAMS, born 16 Feb 1865, Ringgold Co. IA

9) Catherine A. WILLIAMS, born 30 Mar 1867, Ringgold Co. IA

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 380, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z