BIO: Luther H. WILLIAMS, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 345-347. _____________________________________________________________ LUTHER H. WILLIAMS, who has been a lifelong resident of Clearfield County, Pa., has made his home at Osceola Mills since October, 1891. He was born in Bradford Township, December 16, 1843, and is a son of Edward H. and Elizabeth (Smale) Williams, and a grandson of Edward Williams. Edward Williams was born in Wales and when he came to the United States, located in Lancaster County but subsequently moved to Bradford Township, Clearfield County, where he lived until his death. He followed farming and was interested somewhat in lumbering. The record preserved of this ancestor shows that he was a man of industry and perseverance and that he reared a family that was creditable in every way. Edward Hurd Williams, father of Luther H., was probably born in Lancaster County but was quite young when his parents came to Clearfield County. He became a farmer, as was his father, and later embarked in storekeeping, being a merchant from 1853 until the close of his life. For several terms he served in the office of justice of the peace and was a school director for many years. In all that pertained to public life he was an upright citizen. He married Elizabeth Smale, who was born in Graham Township, Clearfield County, a daughter of Benjamin Smale, an old settler. To Edward H. Williams and wife the following children were born: Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of Robert Livengood, of Bradford Township; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Benjamin Carr, of Pike Township; Catherine, who is the wife of George Washington Graham, of Douglas County, Wash.; Henry Ellis, deceased, who was a resident of Bigler, Pa.; Isaiah, deceased, who spent almost all of his life in Pike Township; Mary Ellen, deceased, who was twice married, first Elijah Smale and second to Frederick Campman; Sylvester, deceased, who lived in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County; Wilson R., deceased, spent his life in Bradford and Graham Townships; Edward Johnson, who lives in Graham Township; Luther H., who resides at Osceola Mills; Henrietta, deceased, who was the wife of William Ogden, of Clearfield County; Martha, who married William Lease, of West Clearfield; and John L., who was a resident of Pittsburg, at the time of his death. The parents of this family were members of the Lutheran church. Luther H. Williams was reared in Bradford Township and obtained his education in the country schools. He followed farming until he came to Osceola Mills, in 1891, since which time he has been connected as an employe with the Car Shops of the Berwind-White Company. Mr. Williams has witnessed many changes in this section during the twenty years since he came here and he has borne his part, as a good citizen in making Osceola Mills a pleasant, law-abiding town, one in which business enterprises prosper and comfortable living is possible. He is not very active in politics, having never been anxious for political office, and casts his vote with the Republican party. On September 21, 1865, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Belinda A. Waple, who was born on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, May 17, 1846, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Wunder) Waple. Henry Waple was born in Charles County, Md., December 11, 1816, and for a time engaged in the manufacture of fancy whips, in Philadelphia. In June, 1843, he moved to Boggs Township, Clearfield County, and thereafter until April, 1862, conducted the hotel known as the Half-Way House, which was situated between Phillipsburg and Curwensville, after which he moved to Fairfax County, Va., just outside the city of Washington, D. C., and resided there until his death on March 18, 1906. Henry Waple married Mary Wunder, who was born at Germantown, Pa., and died when Mrs. Williams was six years old. The Wunder family is an old one in this country, of Holland ancestry, and it was established in America prior to the Revolutionary War. William Wunder, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Williams, was an officer in Washington's army and being a butcher by trade he prepared meat for the soldiers and was also a lay reader to them during the fearful winter at Valley Forge. His son, William Wunder, was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1808 he built the first stone house in Germantown, Pa., a picture of which Mrs. Williams prizes very highly. To Henry and Mary (Wunder) Waple the following children were born: Catherine, who is the widow of Henry Shimmel, of Cumberland, Md.; Emily, who died at the age of two years; Belinda A., who is the wife of Luther H. Williams; Julia, who is deceased, was the wife of Isaac Richardson; and two daughters who died unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had five children, namely: Harry Edward, who is a conductor in the railroad service, married Annie Baker, of Phillipsburg, and they have had five children - Oral, Harold, Robert, Marian and Dorothy; Lawrence S., who is a resident of Newton, Centre County, married Mary Thomas, of Phillipsburg, and they have two sons and two daughters - Violet May, Adaline, Harvey and Leo; Melvin C., who married Edna V. Hoyt, and they have had three children - Clayton Hoyt, Luther Sherman and O. Blanche; Oral Blanche, who died in October, 1906, aged almost thirty-one years; and Ernest A., who resides at Osceola Mills, adjoining his parents, married Carrie Estep and they have one son, Edward Luther. Mr. Williams and family are members of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Malta and the Mystic Chain.