BIO: Herbert WILLIAMS, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, page 130

HERBERT WILLIAMS, who departed this life November 3, 1886, was an honored 
veteran of the Civil war, and a valued and representative citizen of Snow 
Shoe township. He was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, in June, 1826, a son of 
William and Ann Williams, who were also natives of that city, where they 
conducted the "Iron Bridge Inn."
  On coming to the United States, our subject first located in Pottsville, 
Penn., but later removed to Snow Shoe, where he engaged in blacksmithing 
until the outbreak of the Rebellion. Feeling that his adopted country needed 
his services, he put aside his individual interests, and in 1861 enlisted in 
Company E, 5th Reserve Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Landimore, joining his 
company on the 1st of June. During most of his service he engaged in 
blacksmithing. He was wounded during the seven-days battle of Richmond, was 
captured, was for eleven weeks confined in Libby prison, and on his release 
was sent to Bellevue Hospital, New York City, where he remained for eleven 
months. When hostilities had ceased he returned to his home in Snow Shoe, 
where he successfully engaged in blacksmithing for a number of years, but at 
the time of his death was living practically retired. His sympathy, his 
benevolence, his kindly greeting, will long be remembered by those who knew 
him. His duties were performed with the greatest care, and throughout his 
life his personal honor and integrity were without blemish. Ardent and 
constant in his affections, he was a most tenderly devoted husband. In 
politics he was a stanch Democrat, but did not aspire to office; in religious 
faith he attended the Presbyterian Church.
  In Snow Shoe Herbert Williams was married to Rebecca (Hinton), who was 
twice married, her first husband being William Walker, of English descent, 
who was killed while a soldier in the Federal army. By that union she had one 
son, who was born September 7, 1852, and died March 16, 1896, leaving a widow 
and eight children, who reside in Snow Shoe. The birth of Mrs. Williams 
occurred in Spring township, Centre county, May 19, 1829. In the same county
her parents, Isaac and Margaret (Lucas) Hinton, spent their entire lives, the 
father dying October 13, 1854, and the mother on January 29. 1880. Their 
family numbered the following children: Austin, born in 1811, died in Snow 
Shoe; William died suddenly in a hayfield in Centre county; Stacy married 
Daniel Wyland, and both are now deceased; Benjamin died in Snow Shoe; Martha 
is the widow of William Shuck, of Milesburg, Centre county; Rebecca (Mrs. 
Williams) is the next in order of birth; Isaac and Constance are twins, of 
whom the former was a Union soldier, and was killed at Charles City Cross 
Roads June 30, 1861, while the latter is a farmer of Iowa; Margaret died 
unmarried; and George died June 11, 1890.
  The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Williams were William and Martha Hinton, 
natives of England and Chester county, Penn., respectively. When a boy the 
former was kidnaped and brought to America. Later he made his home in Centre 
county, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. Joseph and Rebecca 
(Askey) Lucas, the maternal grandparents, were born in Centre county, of 
German parentage.
  Mrs. Williams is a most highly respected lady, an excellent 
conversationalist, and has many warm friends throughout the community. In the 
course of her life she has met with two painful accidents - breaking her 
right arm by falling from a cherry tree when thirteen years of age, and 
breaking her left arm on the 17th of April, 1896, while assisting a neighbor 
in papering a room.