Biographical Sketch of Martha Morris-Williams - Chariton County, Missouri

Martha (Morris) Williams.  Among the many venerable old ladies, who were pioneer 
settlers of Chariton county Mo. yet spared to recite many interesting incidents 
connected with the early settlement of this county, there are none, perhaps more 
worthy of special mention in this Portrait and Biographical Record of the county in 
which she has resided. for over three score years, than the subject of this sketch, 
whose pleasant and contented physiognomy adorns this page.  Mrs. Williams, was born 
March 1, 1811, in Jessamine county, Kentucky, and  was the daughter of Nathaniel and 
Nancy Morris, who emigrated to Missouri  in 1818, settling, in Howard county. Upon 
attaining her majority, our subject was united in marriage to Samuel Williams, a son 
of Edward Williams, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and a pioneer settler of two 
states, who located in this state in 1819.  The union of Samuel Williams and that of 
our venerable subject proved to be a long, and happy one, and was blessed with fifteen 
children, nine of whom lived to be married, as follows: Nancy J., now Mrs. Callison; 
George W.; Sarah, Mrs. Wright; Edward M.; Pauline, Mrs. Banning; Susan, Mrs. Dysart; 
Ellen, Mrs. Williams; Josephine, Mrs. Donaldson; and Minnie, Mrs. Copeland.  With the 
exception of Mrs. Dysart, now of West Plains, and Mesdames Banning and Donaldson, 
deceased, they all reside in Salisbury township and within a few miles of their kind 
and loving old mother, a pleasure and a comfort to her in her now rapidly declining 
years.  With her husband, Mrs. Williams located in Salisbury township, between the 
East and Middle Forks of the Chariton River, in 1837, where our subject yet resides, 
her husband having died in 1860.  Notwithstanding the fact that "Aunt Patsy" as she is 
familiarly known by all is in her 86th year, she enjoys the best of health and an 
activity, mentally and physically, remarkable in one so well advanced in years.  Her 
recollections of pioneer days of Chariton county are now as fresh and distinct as 
occurrences of but yesterday and are related in a very happy and entertaining, manner. 
In speaking of her neighbors of the 30's and '40's, the names of many of whom she can 
easily recall, Mrs. Williams says there existed much true-hearted hospitality among 
them and although deprived of the comforts and luxuries of to-day, their pioneer days 
were happy ones and even now in the quietude of her home, surrounded by every comfort 
and convenience she could wish, she frequently lingers in thought, longingly and 
lovingly, over the scenes of those by-gone happy days. The first "temple of learning," 
erected in Mrs. Williams' neighborhood was a log hut, with a huge artistic (?) chimney, 
built of mud and sticks and was taught by one John P. McAdams.  Mount Nebo was the 
first church erected and was built by the Baptist.  Elder Felix Redding was the pastor 
in charge.  Dr. James Brummall was the first physician in the neighborhood, who on 
visiting his patients traveled on foot, when the distance would permit.  Mrs. Williams 
relation of performances of one David Gross, a fiddler of no mean ability, are truly 
interesting and amusing indeed.

Standing in her cabin door, Mrs. Williams has often counted from 15 to 20 deer, some 
of them being in range of gunshot, while at night wolves would come to the open door 
and with their glistening eyes and their hungry wolfish faces and hideous barking at 
the bright blaze upon the rude and simple hearth, make some nights almost unbearable.


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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Willard Smith 
<smithwil@earthlink.net>

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