Saguache County CO Archives Biographies.....Williams, John Hugh August 16, 1842 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 8, 2006, 3:18 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Hon. John Hugh Williams.  This honored citizen of Saguache county, who in

the fall of 1904 was elected to the office of county judge, which he had

previously filled one term with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the

people, and who has well administered the affairs of several other offices in

the county and town of his residence, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born

on August 16, 1842.  His parents, John H. and Eleanor Williams, lived for a

number of years in Ohio, then moved to Iowa in 1856, and there they passed the

remainder of their lives.  The father was of Irish and Welsh ancestry and the

mother born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  After passing many years of his life

at his trade as a jeweler, the father turned his attention to farming and

raising live stock, in which he was measurably successful.  He was a Whig in

politics until the death of that party, and after that supported its successor,

the Republican organization.  The family comprised six children.  Of these Mrs.

G.W. Beckley, Mrs. Hillhouse, the Judge and his brother George are living, and

Parker and James M., who was a colonel of the Twenty-first Alabama Infantry in

the Civil war, are dead.  Judge Williams received only a common-school

education, the circumstances of the family requiring his services on the farm as

soon as he was able to work.  At the age of eighteen he left home and learned

the trade of a miller.  He wrought at this and followed merchandising in Iowa,

whither he accompanied his parents in 1856, until after the beginning of the

Civil war.  In 1861 he made his first trip to Colorado, traveling overland by

the River Platte route, and crossing the river at Shinn’s Ferry.  Sixty days

were consumed in the journey, and while it was fraught with difficulty no

hostile Indians were encountered, although the train, which was loaded with

supplies, was a tempting prize for marauders.  While returning to Iowa he heard

on the plains of the fall of Fort Sumter, and hastening home, he enlisted in

defense of the Union as a member of Company G, First Iowa Cavalry.  He served to

the end of the momentous conflict and was mustered out at Memphis, Tennessee,

bearing the scars of two slight wounds received in battle.  During the next

three years he was engaged in milling, merchandising and farming in Iowa, and in

1868 again came to this state, this time in search of an improvement of his

health.  He made the trip by the same route that he had formerly followed except

that he crossed the Platte at Grand Island, Nebraska.  The grass was so high and

heavy at many places along the way that the road was hidden by it.  The Judge

reached Saguache in July, 1868, and determined to make that place his permanent

residence.  In the course of a little time he was appointed deputy county clerk

and this office he held until 1880, then by reason of the death of T.J. Ellis he

was appointed county commissioner.  He also served one term as county judge and

two as county commissioner by election.  From September, 1896, to the time of

his second qualification as county judge he was postmaster at Saguache, having

previously been assistant, and from the same time has been a half partner in the

Lawrence Hardware Company there.  During his long residence in the county he has

been closely identified with and deeply interested in every phase of its

progress and development, and his devotion to its agricultural interests induced

him to become a landholder.  He owns a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres

three miles east of the town, which he took up as wild land and has improved

with all the requisites for ranching and stock-growing, and made one of the

valuable and attractive rural homes of the region.  His political allegiance is

given freely, fully and zealously to the Republican party, and in its councils

in this state he has long been influential and highly regarded.  On October 14,

1869, he united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Shoults, and they have had

eleven children.  One son, Henry P., has died.  The other ten are living.  They

are, Eugene, John F., Elizabeth, Hope, Hugh, Roy, Glenn, Wilson P., James R. and

John H.  It is much to say of any man that a residence of thirty-six years in a

community has steadily advanced him in the confidence, good will and regard of

its people, and left no just cause of complaint in either his private or his

public life.  But this can be truly said of Judge Williams, who has all elements

of the community as his friends and fully deserves their esteem.   

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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