Gregg Co., TX Archives - Biographies: Ned E. Williams ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: James Williams & Winston Williams http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ********************************************************** Biography NED E. WILLIAMS September 4, 1864 - November 27, 1945 Author: James N. E. Williams/Winston A. Williams Professor Ned E. (N. E.) Williams was born a slave on September 4, 1864 to Ms Partha Williams (being a slave, his father was not known) on a Plantation owned by James W. Williams in Sabine County, Texas. He was reared near East Hamilton, Shelby County, Texas until he was approximately sixteen (16) years old. His mother had three (3) other children; Jake, Della and Ludie. In 1880 the family migrated by wagon train to Kansas for a better life and lived there for about 18 months in the Coffeyville area. Kansas proved to be no better than East Texas in addition to the weather being rather hostile at the time. They decided to return to Shelby County, Texas. Instead they stopped by a farm owned by Dr. Mitchell in the Elderville, Gregg County area because they were out of funds. They worked on the farm for a while and decided to stay in the area instead of returning to Shelby County. During this time he kept privately studying books he acquired along the way after he finished his chores. Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell encouraged him to continue his studies. Since he was self-taught and very studious, he was encouraged by Professor F. A. Glenn to enter the teaching profession. He took the examination and passed. He started his teaching career at a small school in community of Fredonia in 1883 about 8 miles south of Longview, Texas. He taught there until 1889 until he was called home to the community of Greenville (about 8 miles southeast of Lonview near the Gregg County, East Texas Regional Airport) to assist in setting up and running a school that would later bear his name. The school operated in the Elderville School District under the following names: Greenville School, Greenville High School, Gregg County Training School and Ned E. Williams High School. The school continued in operation for over 80 years producing thousands of graduates who have served the community and the nation as teachers, preachers, lawyers, chemists, business leaders, administrators and leaders in the armed forces. Professor Williams was able attend Bishop College, Marshall, Texas and Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama with having the benefit of a formal high school education. While at Tuskegee Institute he studied under Drs. Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. Dr. Carver visited him in Lonview in 1915. Another visit was scheduled by Dr. Carver in 1943 but he became too ill to come. He passed away a few months later. He was a devout member of the Pleasant Green Baptist Church serving in a number of capacities as Deacon, Trustee, Church Clerk, and Sunday School Teacher to name a few. He was also a Mason in the Prince Hall Cuney Lodge. He kept the community informed of various issues affecting them through voter education, counseling, Notary Public. He continued to remind residents to pay their poll taxes and vote so they could effect the out come of an election. None of his accomplishments could have been made without his wife the former Adah Richardson whom he married on February 1, 1883. Ten (10) children were born to this union and they were; Cora H., Alfred L., John R., Mattie L., Neddie D., Elzie R., Frances A., Lena B., Victor H. and Wilbert E. Five (5) of the children became teachers and five (5) engaged other endeavors. Two of them taught with him at the school; Elzie R. and Lena B. Elzie (E. R.) replaced him as principal and later became superintendent of the Elderville School District. After over 60 years in the field of education, professor Williams passed away on November 27, 1945 leaving behind a world in much better shape than he found it. As he stated in the "History of My Life" dated December 11, 1928, "I am indebted to the best Negroes and Whites of this country for my success if I have made any at all. I do know one thing I have spared no time in trying to make myself an honest citizen and all that come in my way to instruct. So this is about the career of my life. My only regret is I wish I had another to spend". ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: All information came from "Ned E.(N. E.) Williams 1864-1945 A Biographical History", Revised, November 29, 2006 Compiled by: James NE Williams Winston A. Williams This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb ---