Conway County ArArchives Biographies.....Williams, J. L. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 20, 2009, 11:52 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

J. L. WILLIAMS.
    J. L. Williams, who is now serving as circuit clerk and recorder of Conway
county and is a resident of Morrillton, was born in Conway county on the 31st of
October, 1881, a son of A. J. and Martha Belle (Martin) Williams. His
grandfather on the paternal side was W. J. Williams, a native of Georgia and an
extensive and successful planter in that state. In later life he emigrated to
Arkansas, making the trip with oxen, the journey covering several weeks.
Locating in Conway county he homesteaded here and resided on the land until his
death at the age of sixty-one years. He always did general farming and won
prominence among the agriculturists of the community. The maternal grandfather,
Andrew J. Martin, was born in Tennessee, where he engaged in planting for many
years. Previous to the Civil war he came overland to Arkansas and entered eighty
acres of land in Conway county. During the war his crops were repeatedly
destroyed by bushwhackers. His death occurred at the age of fifty years, when he
was overcome with the heat while plowing a field with a mule team. A. J.
Williams was born in Georgia in 1855 and came to Conway in the '60s. He
homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of wooded land here, which he cleared
himself and upon which he erected a log house and other improvements. He is
still living on the old homestead, at the age of sixty-six years. When Mr.
Williams first located in this community the nearest trading post was
Lewis-burg, a landing on the Arkansas river. The country abounded in wild game,
deer, bear, turkey and the like. In 1869 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to
Miss Martha Belle Martin, who was born in Conway county in 1857, and to their
union eleven children were born: Hallie, the widow of G. E. Edison of
Morrillton; J. L., whose name initiates this review; Ira, an instructor in the
University of Illinois dental school and a graduate of that institution; Sallie,
the wife of F. C. Cargile, who is engaged in the oil business in Morrillton,
Arkansas; Myra, the widow of Amos Carter of Morrillton; Emmett, associated with
the McGeorge Construction Company of Pine Bluff; Leah, residing with her father;
Mattie, deputy circuit clerk of Conway county; and Alvie, attending the high
school at Morrillton. Two other children died in infancy. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Williams are consistent members of the Presbyterian church and the father always
gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, in the activities of
which he takes a great interest.

    In the acquirement of an education J. L. Williams attended the country
schools of Conway county and graduated from the high school at Morrillton, with
the class of 1904. He then enrolled as a student at Draughon's Business College
in Little Rock and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in teaching in the
rural schools until 1916. In that year he was elected to the office of county
clerk for a period of four years and at the termination of that time was elected
circuit clerk and recorder, in which capacity he is now active. Mr. Williams
holds to the belief that every public office is a public trust and in every
office in which he has been active he has discharged the duties and
responsibilities devolving upon him in a very satisfactory manner. He owns some
land in the county, which he rents and he takes an active interest in
agricultural affairs.

    Fraternally Mr. Williams is identified with the Masons, and is a member of
Albert Pike Consistory of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the
democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors
in good government. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and
he has for some time served that organization as elder. Mr. Williams is one of
the estimable citizens of Morrillton, who can always be depended upon to meet
his obligations in both public and private life.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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