Biography - William Williams
WILLIAM L. WILLIAMS was born in Tennessee August 28, 1848. He is a son of Levi and Nellie (Howard) Williams, both of whom were natives of South Carolina. Levi Williams was a wheelwright and followed his trade until 1861, when his health failed. In 1863 he moved to Illinois and rented land in Pope County, where he remained until 1870, when he removed to Johnson County, and died there in 1876. William L. Williams remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, when he rented land in Pope County, and continued thus engaged for two years. In 1870 he removed to Johnson County and located at Lincoln Green, where he engaged in the mercantile business in a log house. He was proprietor of a general store from 1871 to 1883, and also served as Postmaster, having been appointed in 1880. In 1883 he moved his stock of goods to Belknap, and is now the leading merchant in this latter village, where he carries on a general store.
In addition to merchandising, Mr. Williams owns a flouring mill fitted up with the roller process. He is one of the enterprising and wide-awake citizens of Belknap, and is the present Postmaster at this place, having been appointed August 27, 1890. He has served as County Commissioner for four years, and in every position of trust has proved that the confidence of his fellow-citizens was not misplaced. November 3, 1870, he married Clara B. Compton, who died October 3, 1882. He was next married October 26, 1883, to Alice Compton, who was born in Harrison County, Ind., February 8, 1852, and whose parents were natives of Indiana. Mr. Williams has seven children, three by his first wife, namely: Harry, Ida and Myrtle. Those by his second wife are Bertha, Edith, Flossie and Duncan. Socially Mr. Williams is a member of Belknap Lodge No. 822, A. F. & A. M., and of Belknap Lodge No. 251, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Republican.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 496-497.
