THORNTON W. WILLIAMSON
Thornton W. Williamson was born in Taylor county, Virginia, August 19, 1829. He is a son of John W. and Nancy (Hawkins) Williamson, natives of Fauquier county, of the same State. They died in Taylor county, where Thornton W. lived until he was twenty-four years of age. He worked on the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age. The next year he worked on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, as brakesman. He then went to Cedar county, Iowa, where he resided four years, being engaged in the lime trade. He then removed to Barton county, Missouri, and two years later to Page county, Iowa, where he resided six months; thence to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he lived for six months. Then he went to Polk City, Polk county, Iowa, and engaged in farming for three years, then to Rising Suu(sic), in the same county, and was engaged in the same business, and that of masonry. Here he resided seven years. He then moved to Cass county, and settled in Pleasant township, where he owned a farm, and remained five years, after which he removed to his present farm in Brighton township. Here he owns nearly two hundred acres of land, all improved. He makes a specialty of stock raising and feeding. Mr. Williamson was married in Barton county, Missouri, August 17, 1859, to Sarah J. Millard, a native of Bennington county, Vermont, and daughter of Jesse and Hester A. Millard, who are now living in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson have five children...James F., John W., Celestia A., Alva and Matilda A. Mrs. Williamson's parents removed from Vermont to Wisconsin, and afterwards to Barton county, Missouri, their present residence. Mr. Williamson never spent a dime at the bar for liquor, or a nickel for tobacco in his life.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 602-603.
