Talladega-Chambers County AlArchives Biographies.....Williams, John Creighton April 8, 1856 - May 1931 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Diana Quinones audiana@msn.com July 24, 2006, 5:14 am Author: BIO from Notable Men of Alabama: Personal & Genealogical, Volume 1 of 2 (on microfiche) by Hon. Joel C. DuBose, Editor, pub. 1904: John Creighton Williams, editor and publisher of 'Our Mountain Home' Talladega newspaper, was born in Talladega County, Ala on 4/8/1856. His father, William Sims Williams, was born in Edgefield district* SC on 1/20/1820, and was a son of Creighton Williams, one of the old settlers in that district. At the age of twenty, William S Williams came to Alabama, locating in Chambers Co AL. He married Louise Adeline Taylor, a dau of Baxter and Elizabeth (Walton) Taylor, who were among the early settlers of Chambers County. The first session of court ever held in that county was convened at the house of Baxter Taylor. Not long after his marriage, W S Williams came to Talladega, where he continued to reside until his death in 1891. His wife is still living. She was born 3/17/1824, and is consequently of 80 years of age. They were the parents of 13 children, none of whom are deceased. Both grandfathers of the subject fought in the War of 1812, and his father was in the Indian war of 1836. John C Williams received his education in the public schools of Talladega county and the Talladega Baptist College, after which he learned the trade of printer. Beginning at this when he was thirteen years of age he has followed it ever since, working all the time in the same office of Talladega. In 1881 he bought out the business and good will of the paper, and since that time has been editor and proprietor. Mr. Williams is one of the most public spirited men in the city where he lives and is generally identified with every movement having for its object the betterment of the city. His able newpaper work has placed him in a position where he could wield an influence on political matters, and a result, he has been frequently called upon to take upon himself the discharge of important political duties. He was chairman of the Democratic committee in the Jones- Kolb campaign; has frequently served on county and district committees; was six years a member of the Talladega city council; and was one of the Bryan electors in 1900. For three years he was president of the Alabama Press Association, and was the Executive committeeman from Alabama to the National Editorial Association. Mr. Williams is prominent in social and fraternal cycles. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Knight of Honor, holding membership in all these orders in the lodges of Talladega. On 3/27/1879, he married Minnie Mary Rhodes, whose parents, Thomas A and Sarah Cynthia (Pitts) Rhodes, were early settlers of Talladega county. Three children have been born to this union: Thomas Rhea, Lawrence Creighton, and Sarah Louise RHODES. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Baptist church, in which he has held various offices and was for some time superintendent of the Sunday school. Additional Comments: *note: After further research, I have found that William Sims Williams was born in Kershaw Co SC, son of Creighton/Craton WILLIAMS and Sarah GARDNER. Creighton was born in Warren Co NC, located to Camden SC where he enlisted in War of 1812 from 10/6/1814 - 12/15/1815, enlisted in Camden SC, age 19 for 5 years, and discharged there as a minor. He was a Pvt in the Light Dragoons of the US Regt Co A, Artillery Unit. He filed for a pension for his service in 1876, living then on Bear Creek in Wateree section of Kershaw Co, but his post- office address was Ridgeway in Fairfield Co. Creighton Williams died 7/11/1878, and is buried in Zion ME Cemetery, near the county line of Kershaw and Richland Counties. The parents of John Creighton Williams, William Sims Williams(1/20/1820- 6/23/1891) and Mary Louise Adaline Taylor(3/17/1824-2/22/1909) are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega. W S Williams has a CW plaque showing he was Pvt in Co H, 41Regt, AL Infantry for Confederate States Army in his gravesite. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/talladega/bios/williams40nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/alfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb