Biography of Jesse Williams - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 126

Rev. Jesse Williams. minister in charge of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, at Ada, is a native of Van Buren County, where he was
born March 23, 1864. He is a son of Jesse and Lutitia A. (Claiborne)
Williams. Parents were natives of Tennessee, where father was born in
1813, and mother in 1824. They were married in Tennessee about 1843.
There were born to that union nine children, six sons and three
daughters. Six children are now living, who are named Jesse, the
subject of this sketch, who was the sixth son, and John M., David R.,
William C., George W., and Sarah E., wife of D. F. Cargile, a farmer
in Van Buren County. Father emigrated from Tennessee to Missouri, and
in 1858 to Arkansas, settling in Van Buren, now Cleburne County. He
died March 22, 1890. Mother now lives with son, W. C. Williams, of
Cleburne County. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Jesse Williams, the subject, was educated at the common schools, and
commenced studying for the ministry in 1884, and was licensed to
preach the same year. He was married July 17, 1887, to Miss Zoie
England, a daughter of John and Lavesta (Hamilton) England. She was
born in Faulkner County, February 17, 1867. To this union has been
born one child, Nina. Mrs. Williams' parents were natives of
Tennessee. They were married in Missouri, and they were the parents of
fifteen children, seven sons and eight daughters. Eleven of these
children are now living and are named Anna, Catherine, Nancy J.,
Harriet R., Rachel E, Zoie, William M., Albert R, Walter, Robert D.
and John M. Father died in 1870. He was a member of the Metohdist
Episcopal Church, and of the Masonic fraternity. Mother is now living
at Quitman. Rev. Mr. Williams, though still a young man, has won many
admirers by his brilliancy and promise. All speak highly of him as a
courteous gentleman.