BIO: Thomas U. Williamson, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LII.

                            MONROE TOWNSHIP.

516 	BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  THOMAS U. WILLIAMSON, farmer, P. O. Allen.  The Williamsons were 
among the very oldest settlers of this county, and are of the hardy 
Scotch-Irish stock, which first settled in Silver Spring Township.  The 
great-grandfather of our subject was the first of this name to settle 
in Cumberland County, buying a large tract of land from the Indians, 
for which he gave a web of cloth and $200.  He was a Scotch 
Presbyterian.  His son Thomas was three years old at the time of the 
settlement and at the death of his father he inherited land and lived 
on the old homestead all of his life.  Thomas Williamson kept the 
tavern on the Trindle Spring Road near the west end of the township, 
for many years.  He married a Miss Anderson, of Silver Spring Township, 
this county, and had three children:  James, Samuel and Susan.  Thomas 
Williamson's first wife died, and he subsequently married a Miss Brown, 
of this county, by whom he had three children:  Rebecca, Elizabeth and 
Thomas.  He was also a Presbyterian.  Of his children, James was born 
on the old homestead, and there lived nearly all his life.  He married 
Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas Ulric, of this county, who bore him one 
son:  Thomas U.  This wife died, and he married Miss Catharine, 
daughter of Joseph Kanaga, of this county.  To this union nine children 
were born:  Susan R., Anna M., James A., John J., William S., Samuel 
H., Catharine A., Eisetta J. and Rebecca E.  In political opinions 
James Williamson was a staunch Democrat.  He held several township 
offices.  He was colonel of a regiment at the time of the old militia, 
and lived to the good old age of eighty years.  Thomas U., his son, was 
born on the old homestead bought by his great-grandfather from the 
Indians.  In 1855, he married Miss Maria E., daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Beltzhoover) Herman.  This union has been blessed with eight 
children:  Mary E., Thomas U., James W., Jennie L., C. Herman, Cora M., 
Lillie G. and Linda F.  Mr. Williamson began farming in South Middleton 
Township, where he remained twelve years, and then bought a portion of 
the old tract owned by his great-grandfather, where he lived for seven 
years; then moved to his present residence in Monroe Township.  Our 
subject served for ten months as a member of Company A, Fifty-eight 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. D. B. McKibbir, 
and was honorably discharged at Chambersburg, Penn., August 10, 1863.  
Politically Mr. Williamson is a Democrat.  He and his wife are members 
of the Lutheran Church.