1925 Biography - W Williams
W. L. Williams was born in Tennessee in 1848. He was a son of Levi and Nellie (Howard) Williams, who were both natives of South Carolina. The father came to this state in 1863, residing first in Pope County, later moving to Johnson. W. L. Williams began his business career at Lincoln Green in the southwest section of the county, in 1870 as a merchant. His first business building was made of logs. He kept a general store and was the postmaster at that place until 1876 when he moved his home and business to Belknap where he has been very successful. He conducts a mercantile business and has been in business longer than any man in the county, 52 years; owns a well equipped flour mill as well as farming interests in the neighboring section. He was postmaster at Belknap for several years, also served the county as commissioner. Mr. Williams has been one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens of that community and has been vice-president of the First National Bank of Vienna for years. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Republican and a Methodist. He married first Clara B. Compton, had children. H. O., Myrtle, and Ida. H. O. was educated in the public schools of the county and Lebanon, Ill. He graduated from Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, Mo., in 1896 and practiced medicine in Belknap and vicinity for several years, when he removed to Centralia, Ill. After a special course in a college for the treatment of the ear and eye, in Chicago, Ill., he entered the Haley Infirmary at Centralia, with Dr. Laybourn. Dr. H. O. married Madge, daughter of D. F. Beauman, of this county and has one daughter, Clara; Myrtle married Theodore Cousins, they have Billy, and reside at Du Quoin, Ill.; W. L. Williams married second Alice Compton, children Bertha, Edith, Flossie and Duncan. Bertha married David Main of the firm of Main Brothers, Karnack, Ill. They reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and have William. Edith married B. Baldridge of Centralia, Ill. He died several years ago leaving children, Ross, Beba and Bertholdt. They also reside in Centralia. Flossie Married Dr. Ray Cummins, who is a dentist of Murphysboro. They have one daughter, Alice. Ida and Duncan died in youth.
Extracted 08 Feb 2017 by Norma Hass from 1925 A History of Johnson County, Illinois, by Mrs. P. T. Chapman, page 465.
