Biography of R D Williams, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 723

R. D. Williams. The merchants of Batesville have the reputation of being among
the most enterprising in Arkansas, and Mr. Williams stands in the foremost
ranks of commercial life at that point. He was born in Henry County, Tenn., on
October 28, 1836, and is a son of William R. and Evaline (Moody) Williams, of
Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. The parents were married in the latter
State and moved to Arkansas about the year 1839, locating in Independence
County. They remained here two years and then removed to Lawrence County, now
Sharp County, and located near the county seat, Evening Shade. They were among
the early settlers of that section, where the father's occupation was farming,
and where they resided until the time of their death. They were the parents of
eight children, of whom three only are living at present: Richard D., Cordelia,
wife of M. G. Wainright, and Nancy J., wife of W. T. Cunningham. Richard was
only three years old when he came to Lawrence County with his parents, and was
educated in the common schools of that place. Some idea of the schools of that
period may be obtained from the one he attended, which was merely a log cabin,
and had nothing but the bare earth to serve as a floor. He remained on the farm
until he reached maturity, and then occupied a responsible position with a
business house at Evening Shade, in which he was employed for two years. In
1858 he became a merchant himself, and carried on a profitable business until
the war commenced, when he left it in charge of a friend and enlisted in
Company D, Fourteenth Arkansas Regiment. He was taken violently ill shortly
after joining the army and returned home, but after recovering he again
enlisted, becoming a member of Wade's Company, and served a short time in
Price's raids through Missouri. He was captured near his home soon after this
raid, but after two weeks' confinement was paroled, and after the surrender
returned home and took charge of his business at Evening Shade, continuing
there until the fall of 1887, when he moved to Batesville and opened up a large
and well-stocked store. He still retains his interest in the business at
Evening Shade, however, the firm there being Williams, Price & Co., while that
one at Batesville is known as R. D. Williams & Co. He owns about 1,200 acres of
land in Sharp County, and has about 500 acres under cultivation. Mr. Williams
is a true representative of the wide-awake, active and enterprising business
man, and his ability has made him one of the most successful men in commercial
circles in Batesville. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary E. Shaver, by whom
he has one child living–Clara. He lost this wife, and was again married in
1882, his second wife being Mrs. Mattie Wasson, widow of W. G. Wasson. Mr.
Williams is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor, and,
with his wife, attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.