Hancock County IL Archives Biographies.....Williams, Jesse C August 22, 1819 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Morrey sandymorrey@yahoo.com November 9, 2009, 11:53 pm Source: Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois Author: Unknown JESSE C. WILLIAMS, who for many years was prominently connected with the business interests of Carthage, but is now practically living a retired life in that city, was born in Rich- mond, Madison County, Ky., on the 22d of Au- gust, 1819. His father, Richard G. Williams, was a native of Culpeper County, Va., and in 1808 emigrated to Kentucky, where he met and married Catherine Holder, who was born in that State in 1797. Her father, John Holder, was a native of Virginia, and was a comrade of Daniel Boone. Her mother was a daughter of Col. Richard Calloway, who was prominent in the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He made his home for some years in Kentucky. A story of romantic interest is connected with the marriage of his daughter, and is as follows: Late on a Sunday afternoon, three young girls, Betsy and Frances Calloway, daughters of Col. Calloway, and Jemima Boone, a daughter of Dan- iel Boone, ventured from the enclosure at Boones- boro to amuse themselves with a canoe upon the river that flowed by the fort. They drifted down with the current, and before they were aware of danger they were seized by five Indian warriors. Though they resisted with their paddles, they were drawn ashore and hurried off to the Shaw- nee tribe on the Ohio. Their screams were heard at the fort, and the cause of the outcry was at once imagined. The fathers were absent, but soon returned and quickly started in pursuit, Col. Calloway heading a mounted party, while Boone, as was his custom, went on foot. His party numbered eight, among whom were three young men, the girls' lovers, who shared in the anxiety of the almost distracted fathers. Betsy Calloway, the eldest girl, marked the trail as she was hurried along by breaking twigs and bending bushes, and when threatened with the tomahawk if she persisted, tore small bits from her dress and dropped them as she passed along. She would also frequently plant the heel of her shoe deeply in the soil to make distinct impressions to guide those she knew would soon pursue. Every precaution was taken by the Indians to obliterate any trace of their course, but keen eyes and anx- ious hearts were following, and as day dawned on Tuesday a film of smoke showed the vicinity of the camp where the Indians were cooking break- fast. Col. John Floyd, who was afterwards killed by the Indians, was one of the party, and vividly described the rescue. "Our study was to get the prisoners without giving the Indians time to kill them after they discovered us. Four of us fired, and we all rushed on them, by which they were prevented from carrying anything away except one shotgun. The red men escaped, but with no guns, clubs or provisions, and two of them were severely wounded. The return of the rescued girls was the occasion of great rejoicing. The young lovers had proved their skill and cour- age under the eye of the greatest of all warriors and woodsmen, Daniel Boone, and had fairly won their sweethearts." Two weeks later the first wedding on Kentucky soil was solemnized, the parties being Samuel Henderson and Betsy Calloway. The contract was witnessed by friends and neighbors, the formal license was dispensed with, and the vows were administered by Rev. Boone, a Hardshell Baptist preacher. Within a year Frances Calloway became the wife of the gallant Capt. John Holder, who afterwards dis- tinguished himself in Kentucky annals, and Boone' s daughter married the son of Col. Calloway. In tracing the ancestry of the Williams family, we find that Jesse Williams, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in eastern Maryland in 1750. His grandfather had emigrated from Wales and had there located in 1720. Jesse Williams, Sr., emi- grated to Kentucky in 1817, and there died in 1835. His son Richard became a resident of that State in 1808, and continued there to make his home until called to his final rest in 1876, at the age of ninety. By trade he was a saddler. His wife died at the age of eighty-seven. In their family were thirteen children, of whom twelve grew to mature years, while eight are yet living. Only two are residents of Illinois, J. C. and a sister who lives in Bloomington. The boyhood days of J. C. Williams were spent upon the old home farm. At the age of twenty he left the parental roof and went to southeastern Tennessee, where, in 1839, he assisted in build- ing the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, the first road built into the former State. In 1840, he went with his employer to Georgia, and was engaged on the construction of the Georgia Cen- tral Railroad. He served as book-keeper for the contractors, and in 1841 returned to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming for a year. He then followed school-teaching until 1843, when he began selling goods in Mt. Vernon, Ky. In 1848, he began business there on his own account, and continued to successfully carry on operations along that line until 1856, when he removed to Crab Orchard, Ky., where he spent eighteen months. In the fall of 1857, he came to Carthage, where for two years his brother, William H. Will- iams, had been engaged in business. In August the latter had opened a large store, and in October of the same year Mr. Williams of this sketch assumed control of the same. He carried a stock valued at $6,000, which included all kinds of general merchandise. After two years his brother retired and entered the army. Later he went to Iowa, but is now living in the northwestern part of Mexico. Mr. Williams had married ere leaving his na- tive State. On the 5th of March, 1850, in Lin- coln County, Ky., he wedded Mary Collier, daughter of John and Susan Collier, of Rock Castle, Ky. Unto them were born seven chil- dren, five of whom are yet living. Oscar W. who graduated from the law department of Har- vard College, is now an attorney and the County Judge of Pecos County, Tex. He is also a ranch- man and is largely interested in Texas lands. William D, graduated from Abingdon College, of Abingdon, Ill., studied law with Judge Ireland, of Austin, Tex., and is now a well-known attor- ney of Ft. Worth, where he is engaged in prac- tice as a member of the firm of Williams & Butts. Josiah J., who graduated from Carthage College, is also a successful lawyer. He studied with the firm of Scofield & Hooker, of this city, and is now in practice in Kansas City, Mo., where he is serving as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson County, Mo. Susan, who graduated from Carthage College, is successfully engaged in teaching in the city schools. Jessie, a stenog- rapher and typewriter, is employed in the pub- lishing house of Chapman Brothers, of Chicago. Mr. Williams began business for himself in Carthage in January, 1860, and for two years was alone, after which he admitted to partnership A. M. Ossman. The following June Mr. Oss- man was murdered, while assisting Sheriff Ing- ' rahm to arrest a man named Ritter, who was killed later in the day. The widow continued in the business for two years, after which Mr. Will- iams became sole proprietor. He did a good bus- iness, building up an excellent trade, and his well- directed efforts brought him a handsome compe- tence. In March, 1892, he retired after a third of a century spent in merchandising in Carthage. He was always prominent in business circles and honorable and straightforward in his dealings. He has always paid one hundred cents on the dollar, and his word is as good as his bond. He had established two branch stores, but did not continue their operation for any great length of time. He is now interested to a considerable ex- tent in Texas lands, having his capital well in- vested. When a young man in Kentucky, Mr. Will- iams became a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife hold membership with the Christian Church, taking an active interest in its welfare. He has served as a member of the City Council, and was President of the Board. In 1871 and 1872, he represented his district in the State Senate, during which time the work of re- construction was carried on. By his ballot he has always supported the Democratic party. His time, however, has been mostly given to commer- cial interests, and through the legitimate channels of business he has acquired a comfortable prop- erty, which is the just reward of a busy and well- spent life. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/hancock/bios/williams1558gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 9.1 Kb