DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; Biography: J. M. Williams - w452 --------------------------------- Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson Typed by Trudy Marlow ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** J. M. Williams. A lifetime of hard, earnest endeavor in pursuing the occupation to which he now gives his attention, coupled with strict integ- rity, honesty of purpose, and liberality in the right directions, have had the result to place Mr. Williams among the truly respected and honored agriculturists of this parish. He was born in Warren County, Ga., in 1818, being the only sur- viving member of a family of eight sons and four daughters born to Thomas and Mary (Ivey) Will iams, the former a Georgian and the latter a na- tive of Virginia. In 1818 they removed from Georgia to Alabama, and settled in Tuscaloosa County, later in Pickens County, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father's attention throughout life being given to farming. He was a stanch Democrat, politically, and for about twenty years was a member of the Alabama Legislature, but also held other offices, and for some time was a colonel in the State Militia. In the State of Alabama, J. M. Williams received his rearing and schooling, but in 1847 he emigrated with his family to Louisiana, making the trip overland with about 100 people and twenty wagons, slaves being also included with the former. Mr. Williams brought with him about twenty-three negroes, and his trip to this region, being unmarked' by any disasters or hardships, was a very pleasant one. Game was in abundance all along the route, and venison and turkey were an every-day affair. He settled with his family in De Soto Parish, near where he now lives, and the farm which he purchased cost him the sum of $8 per acre. In 1851 he moved to where he now lives, and here he subsequently built him a nice frame dwelling-house, in which he ex pects to spend the rest of his life, enjoying the means his former industry accumulated. The place was at first heavily covered with cane-brake, with the exception of a small strip that was under cultivation, but by industry he succeeded in clear- ing it, and is now the proud possessor of 700 acres of fine land, 300 of which are under cultivation, nearly all being under fence. Besides this he has also given his children good farms. All cereals and vegetables can be raised on his land, and as grass grows luxuriantly, and there is an abundance of water, it may be said to be a fine stock farm, and to this he adapts a considerable portion of it, his stock being of a good grade. He is one of the leading planters of the parish, and has been a wit- ness to the complete growth and development of this section He has always been a law-abiding citizen, never had a case of any kind in court, never was sued by anybody, and was never a witness but twice, and says that then he did not know anything to tell. Although he is now seventy-three years of age he still enjoys the best of health and phys- ically and mentally shows but little the ravages of time. He was married in 1837 to Miss Charity Brooks, who bore him one daughter, Mary N., his second wife being Miss Elizabeth Cowley, by whom he became the father of one child, Lightfoot, who is residing in Texas. His third union was to Miss Frances J. Ridgeway, and resulted in the birth of twelve children, four of whom are living: Samuel T., Hancy, Dora I. and Ida J. The family worship in the Baptist Church, and are highly honored throughout this section of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have thirty grandchildren and two Great-grandchildren.