Contra Costa-Solano County CA Archives Biographies.....Williams, Francis 1829 - 
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Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

FRANCIS WILLIAMS.—The subject of our sketch was born in the southern part of
Denmark, May 9, 1829, where he resided until the age of seventeen, being
educated and learning the trade of ship carpenter. In May, 1846, he sailed from
Hamburg for New York, and on arrival had charge of the work on the vessels in
port. Concluding to remain in the United States, he followed his trade at New
Orleans, and in the Summer made trips to various parts of Europe as carpenter of
American ships. In the Fall of 1850, he sailed on board a vessel, still
following his trade, via Cape Horn for San Francisco, arriving in March of the
following year. There he remained for a few months, and then went to the mines
for one year. In the Summer of 1852 he went to Solano county, and engaged in
farming and stock-raising until 1856, when he, in partnership with George A.
Gillespie, built a store at Silveyville, and carried on business in general
merchandise for four years. In 1861, he sold his interest in the store, was
appointed Deputy Assessor of Solano county, and removed to Vacaville, where he
carried on business until 1864. In March of that year he came to Contra Costa
county, and located in the town of Antioch, where he resided until he came to
Martinez, which occurred in March, 1878. In April, 1876, Mr. Williams was
appointed by Governor Irwin, one of the three Commissioners of the "West Side
Irrigation District," by act of the Legislature, to survey and locate a canal
for irrigation and transportation, from Tulare Lake to Antioch, which position
he held until June, 1877, when the labors of the Commission were completed. In
March, 1878, he was appointed Under Sheriff of the county of Contra Costa, which
office he now holds. Married in Vacaville, October, 1862, Mrs. Elizabeth J.
Emmons, a native of Texas. The family consists of five children and two
step-sons. Their names are: Josephine E., Franklin H., Frederick, Granville L.,
Asilie and Elias J. and W. H. Emmons, step-sons.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.



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