Pittsylvania County, VA - Obit: Thomas Neal Williams, 1914


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Submitted by Gayle Austin

Bee Register, Danville Va  December 27, 1914

THOMAS NEAL WILLIAMS
Thomas Neal Williams was born on April 11, 1854 at "Homewood" on Sandy
River in Pittsylvania county, near Brosville, and died on December 15,
1914 at "Wayside" near Whitmell, a few miles from his birthplace.

He was descended from a long line of ancestors distinguished for their
service to the Colony, State and Nation from early Colonial period.

His father was Colonel Robert Walker Williams, who was a son of Colonel
James Mastin Williams, of near Pickaway, Pittsylvania Co, Va who before
the Revolution was Crown surveyor of the Colony of Virginia, appointed
by George Third of England, and who on the braking out of the war for
Independence entered the Colonial Army as a private and rose steadily to
the rank of Captain and after the war to Colonel of State Militia.

His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Pocahontas Martin, a daughter of
Colonel William Martin of "Greenwood" Henry County, Va and granddaughter
of General Joseph Martin of the Revolutionary Army who was distinguished
for gallantry in the battle of King's Mountain.

Mr Williams was the fourth son of his parents.  His early youth was
passed near Brosville and his early training was received at the
"Oldfield's  Schools" of his native county, notably at the old Brick
Academy at Cascade.

About 1870 he went to Richmond to live with his brother-in-law and
cousin, D.T. Williams and while there attended Richmond College and
later became a student at William and Mary College at Williamsburg where
he was elected president of the College Literary Society and also
Captain of the Military Company of Cadets then maintained at this
historic old school.

About 1875 he was appointed to the position of Deputy Sheriff of
Pittsylvania Co by Mr James H Collie, Sheriff, and later by the late
sheriff W I Overby, and in the performance of the duties of this office
he traveled all over the county and made scores of firm and lifelong
friends.  In 1885 Mr. Williams was appointed by President Cleveland to
the position of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the counties of
Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin and adjoining counties and engaged in the
collection of revenues and the supression of the illicit whiskey
traffic.

On the change of administration in 1889 Mr. Williams retired to his farm
"Wayside" near Whitmell where the next four years were spent very
sucessfully in farming and the management of his several plantations,
and descended as he was from a long line of practical planters and
landowners, inherited a passionate fondness for the farm and country
life.

On the re-election of Mr. Cleveland in 1893, Mr Williams was again
appointed to a position in the Internal Revenue Service, this time being
made Special Raiding Deputy and assigned to the States of Virginia and
North Carolina and to parts of the States of Tennessee and West
Virginia.  In the performance of this duty he was often exposed to the
greatest personal danger and was ever distinguished for his cool daring,
bravery and fearlessness and for the faithful performance of his duty.
General Fitzhugh Lee and Colonel W H Chapman, the latter a distinguished
follower of Colonel John S Mobsy with whom Mr Williams was associated in
the government service both declared Mr Williams to be one of the
bravest and coolest men, in places of danger, that they had ever seen.

On the retirement of the Democratic Administration in 1897 he again
retired to his farm where the remainder of his life was spent in the
cultivation and supervision of his plantations, and as success came to
him, he constantly added to his holdings of land and was one of his
native counties largest landowners.  A farm was to him the most
attractive place on earth.

Mr. Williams home life was a happy one.  On June 21, 1877 he was married
to Miss Pattie Green Jennings, third daughter of Joseph Jennings of near
Swansonville, Va and to this union the following children were born.

David T Williams of Chatham, Va.

Mrs Joseph F Roberts of Charlotte, N.C.

Mrs. Howard Randolph Gano of Richmond, Va

Dr. James Neal Williams of Clifton Forge, Va and George Cabel Williams
and Hamilton Sheppard Williams, both of Pittsylvania County.Bee
Register, Danville Va