BIOGRAPHY: James WILLIAMS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 99-100
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JAMES WILLIAMS, the oldest Odd Fellow in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, was born 
in county Norfolk, England, on June 13, 1818.
     At a very early age he took to the sea, and followed the perilous fortunes 
of seamen until twenty-six years of age, circumnavigating the globe twice, and 
crossing and re-crossing the Atlantic several times. In 1845 he was engaged upon 
a liner which ran between New York city and Charleston.
     Knowing that his parents had come to this country in about 1830, he began 
to make a search for them, and was successful in locating them in Catasauqua, 
Lehigh county, this State. His father was a blacksmith in the employ of the 
Crane Iron works, and Mr. Williams became a helper in the shops until 1854. Upon 
the latter date he went to Johnstown, and has remained in that city ever since.
     Coming to that borough he entered the employ of the Cambria Iron company 
until 1866. In 1866, having demonstrated considerable constructive skill, he was 
employed to build the water works for the Johnstown Water company. After their 
completion he was made superintendent, a position he has held to the present 
time, and all enlargements and improvements to the same have been under his 
supervision. He has also been superintendent of the gas works of the same 
company.
     Fraternally no less than as a citizen and a man, Mr. Williams is deservedly 
popular. He is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, F. and A. M.; Portage 
Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M.; Alma Lodge, I. O. O. F., the oldest in the country, 
being an Odd Fellow since 1846. He has been district deputy and also a delegate 
a number of years; is a member of Knights of Pythias at Johnstown; belongs to 
the Encampment connected with the Odd Fellows; is a member of the Episcopal 
Church.
     Mr. Williams has been twice married. His first union was with Jane G. 
Emmerson, and resulted in the birth of the following children: Leonora, dead; 
Robert E. was a locomotive engineer in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, 
and was killed in the service; and George H., a resident of Morrellville.
     His second marriage was with Jane Hamilton, of Johnstown, a sister of 
Catherine Hamilton, who was born in Johnstown in 1817, and who is perhaps the 
oldest native of that city now living in it. To the latter marriage were born 
the following children:  Harry, a physician at the time of his death in 
Pittsburg; John F., of Johnstown; Homer D., of Indianapolis, Ind.; Frank, of 
Johnstown, a manufacturer of brick, and Webster, who died young.