Hopkins Co. TX - Bob Williams Celebrates 100th Birthday (1939) From: June E. Tuck ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. BOB WILLIAMS^Ò 100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY ON SUNDAY (April 25, 1939) Democratic Bob Williams, whose near victory in the Texas gubernatorial campaign in 1906 established him as the most widely know blacksmith in the Lone Star State, pauses Sunday to celebrate his 100th birthday anniversary, which occurs on Monday, May 1. The Cumby citizen, keenly interested in today^Òs political happenings, will be honored with a basket dinner by his friends Sunday. "Uncle Bob," affectionately known and respected by all who have made his acquaintance, is Hopkins County^Òs oldest citizen. He has been residing at Cumby since 1876. The Cumby blacksmith has lived through a long, exciting 100 years, and sandwiched in 28 years of duty as a public official in Hopkins County, having been honored with positions from Justice of Peace, County Commissioner, and as a member of the House Representatives of Texas. He was elected in 1900, serving two years with the 27th Legislature and was re-elected in 1912 and again in 1914, serving with the 33rd and 34th legislatures. As a county commissioner he signed orders which caused the construction of the present courthouse in Hopkins County. Back in 1906 Uncle Bob entered a stormy political campaign in Texas and gained the run-off position in the race for governor with Thomas Mitchell Campbell. He was defeated by only a small margin. R. R. Williams was born in Henderson County, Tennessee, on May 1, 1839, was reared in McNarry County, Tennessee, and moved with his family to Mena (then Dallas,) Arkansas, at the age of 16. It was there that he married Miss Sue Ward on April 7, 1861, and a few months later joined the Army of the Confederacy. During the war between the states, he rose to the rank of major, after a number of exciting escapades. As a prisoner at the federal fort at Baker Springs, Arkansas, he had the experience of digging his own grave, and then escaping being shot. Uncle Bob came to Texas in 1872, settling in Titus County, and then moving to Hopkins County four years later to live. Relatives from as far away as Florida will call Sunday to pay tribute to Uncle Bob. His sister, Mrs. D. J. Hilton, Mena, Arkansas, who Wednesday celebrates her 95th birthday, also will be present with other relatives and friends. Uncle Bob has two sons and two daughters, Murphy Williams, Pascal Williams, Miss Mattie Williams live at Cumby. Mrs. John Wilkins resides at Greenville. On his 97th birthday the following was said - He still walks to town from his residence, in East Cumby, two blocks from the business part of town. He likes to converse on two topics: First, his long record as a Confederate veteran, and his past political career. He still keeps a Confederate flag on the wall of his bedroom and wears a Confederate emblem on the lapel of his coat.