Richmond City-Pittsylvania-Campbell County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Williams, David Terry 1828 - 1873 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 26, 2008, 9:31 pm Author: Leonard Wilson (1916) DAVID TERRY WILLIAMS FOR a period of nearly twenty years David Terry Williams was closely associated with the commercial and financial development of Richmond, Virginia, and during that time he was one of the most useful and enterprising citizens of the capital city. Mr. Williams was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in February, 1828, and died at Richmond, May 21, 1873. He was a son of Thomas Terry Williams and his wife, Betsy Carter. In the paternal line he was descended from William Williams, who married Lucy Terry in 1740. Their son, David Champness Williams also married a Lucy Terry, and their son, Thomas, was the father of the subject of this memoir. The surname Williams is an ancient and numerous one in England and Wales and is found among the records of the earliest American settlers. There are over one hundred Williams Coats of Arms described by authorities on heraldry. The arms used by various descendants of William Williams of Virginia are thus described: "Or, a lion rampant, gules on a chief argent. Crest: an eagle's wings expanded proper reposing a dexter foot on a mound or." David T. Williams was left an orphan at the age of seven years and was reared by his grandmother. He was educated in the schools of Pittsylvania County and began business life as a general merchant at Brook Neal, Campbell County, Virginia, where he remained five years. At the age of twenty-six he removed to Richmond and established himself as a commission merchant, and by his fair dealing, pleasing address and good tact, soon became successful and prosperous. In 1861 he became a member of the banking firm of Williams, Peters and Company of Richmond, which in 1S63 was succeeded by Mr. Williams as sole proprietor of the banking house. The termination of the Civil War, so disastrous to the Confederate States, seriously affected Mr. Williams' finances. Mr. Williams was devoted to the interests of the Confederate States and helped both the men and the cause in many ways. Although legally exempt from service in the army, he served in the troops defending Richmond and did his full share in that service. His office and his home were placed at the disposal of the sick and wounded soldiers, where they received tender care. Captain Frederick M. Colston of Baltimore, in a recent letter to Mrs. Williams, says in reference to her late husband: "When I came to Richmond, a paroled prisoner from Appomattox, Mr. Williams and you received me into your house and hospitably entertained me until I was permitted to come home to Baltimore. Mr. Williams was kind to us all and I cherish his memory with affection and respect." Soon after the evacuation of Richmond he went abroad to recuperate his health and upon his return in 1866, he resumed business as a commission merchant with varying success. His extraordinary mental and physical exertions to retrieve his fortunes again interfered with his health, and in 1870 he disposed of the business. In 1872 Mr. Williams became a member of the firm of Williams, Johnson and Company, and established the Manufacturers' Tobacco Exchange, with which he was actively identified at the time of his death. Mr. Williams was twice married. By his first marriage in 1850 to Miss Elvira S. Thornton, daughter of Dr. Richard Thornton, of Halifax County, Virginia, he had two children, one who died in infancy, and the other, David Thomas Williams, who died July 4,1865, at the age of fourteen years. He married secondly in 1859, Sallie Wilmouth Williams, a cousin, daughter of Robert W. and Elizabeth Martin Williams. Of this marriage five boys and two girls were born. The sons died in boyhood. The daughters, Annie Ruffin and Lucy Hoge married and had issue, namely: Annie Ruffin Williams married February 7, 1893, Riley Miles Gilbert of Columbus, Ohio, who died August 22, 1909. Their children are: Annie, Mary Frances and Riley Miles Gilbert. Lucy Hoge Williams married September 28, 1892, Henry Cecil Bash, of Baltimore, Maryland. They had one child, Enderlin Carter. All of this family are deceased. Mrs. Bash died August 11, 1896, Enderlin Carter Bash died August 27, 1896, aged three years; Henry Cecil Bash died in 1912. In religious belief David T. Williams was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His fraternal affiliations included Joppa Lodge of Masons and Richmond Commandery Knights Templar. He had an extensive acquaintance and many friends in North Carolina and Virginia, by whom he was beloved and trusted. Public spirited, liberal and sincere in his attachments, Mr. Williams was possessed of a persevering and hopeful disposition which never yielded as long as health and strength held out. He was a man to whom people went for advice in personal trouble as well as in business perplexity, sure of his sympathy and aid. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MAKERS OF AMERICA BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE VOLUME II By LEONARD WILSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS Illustrated with many full page engravings B. F. JOHNSON, INC. CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A. 1916 Copyright, 1916 by B. F. Johnson, Inc. 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