SAMUEL L. WILLIAMS
A
native of Warren township, Lucas county, Samuel L. Williams
has here spent his entire life with the exception of ten years
during which he was a resident of Kansas. Formerly engaged in
farming, he turned his attention to carpentering in 1908,
which occupation he has since followed with gratifying
success. Samuel
L. Williams was born September 30, 1866, a son of Parkison and
Sarah J. (Essex) Williams, of whom more extended mention is
made under the heading of Parkison Williams.
Samuel
L. William was reared and attended school in Warren township,
spending the major portion of his life on the old homestead
and assisting in its operation.
He spent ten years in Kansas, however, but then
returned to his former home.
In the meantime he had taken up the carpenter’s trade,
in which occupation he has since been successful.
Mr.
Williams was married in 1891 to Miss Laura E. Clayton, who was
born in Wayne county, Iowa, May 8, 1874. She was brought by
her parents to Lucas county when a child and grew to womanhood
here. Her
parents are William and Elizabeth (Wright) Clayton, who came
from Wayne county to Lucas county and are now residents of
Chariton. In
their family were the following children: Florence, deceased;
Mrs. Samuel L. Williams; Mrs. Mellie Graham, who resides in
Oregon; Mrs. Annie Lewis of Chariton; Alvin, deceased; Henry,
who makes his home in Chariton; Mrs. Essie McCulloch, of the
same city; and Carl, who makes his home with his parents in
Chariton. The
two eldest of these children were born in Wayne county and the
remainder in Lucas county.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams became the parents of seven
children: Herbert
R., born March 13, 1893, still at home; Dorothy Steva, born
July 20, 1895, who died December 3, 1896; Mamie I., born
January 10, 1901; Gerald, whose date of birth was September
23, 1903; Orlo B., who birth occurred November 26, 1905;
Gladys M., born January 29, 1908; and Robert D., born May 19,
1911. The three
elder children were born in Wayne county and the younger ones
in Stafford county, Kansas.
Mrs. Williams is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, taking an active and helpful interest in its work.
Politically Mr. Williams is a republican, giving his unqualified support to the measures and candidates of that party. However, he has never taken more than a citizen’s interest in politics, not caring for public office. He is public-spirited in the best sense of the word and is interested in all that pertains to the progress of his section. He enjoys in large measure the confidence and good-will of his fellow citizens and is one of the valued and esteemed residents of Warren township.