George W. Williams a pioneer settler of this county, and now a resident of Apple River, came hither with his uncle in 1817. He was born in Belmont Township, Washington Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1841. and is the son of James and Catherine (Alt) Williams who were natives of, respectively, of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Williams family is of Welsh ancestry, who came to America during the Colonial times. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation and died in Washington County, Ohio, when George N. was a child of eighteen months. The mother was subsequently married to a Mr. Young, and there were born two children—Catherine and George W.

Our subject was reared under the roof of his uncle, Solomon Williams, who, after coming with him to this county, purchased land in Apple River Township and began farming. In this he was assisted by young Williams, who obtained his education in the typical Log school-house of those days, with its puncheon floor and the other furnishings of that day. At the early age of twelve years he commenced the battle of life for liimself working out among the farmers of his neighborhood. In due time he secured a team and a threshing-machine, one of the first of its kind in the county, which he operated until the outbreak of the Civil War. In February, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 1st Illinois Light Artillery, under Capt. Bouton, of Chicago. They drilled at St. Louis, in Benton Barracks, four weeks, and our subject completed his military education under Confederate fire. His first engagement was at Pittsburgh Landings and he thereafter participated in many of the important battles of the war. He spent the winter of 1863—64 in quarters at Murfreesboro, Tenn. After the first battle of Shiloh he was promoted to First Corporal for meritorious services, and later was made quarter­master Sergeant. His next promotion was to Orderly Sergeant, and with this title he was mustered out, and received his honorable discharge, at Chicago, on the 26th of July, 1865. During this time he had only visited home once on a thirty-days furlough.

Upon retiring from the army, Mr. Williams sought his old haunts in this county, and there­after followed farming. He was married Dec. 28, 1865, to Miss Lovina, daughter of Henry Hess, of Apple River. Mrs. Williams was born in Lancaster, Pa., and came to this county with her parents in the spring of 1842. Of her union with our subject there have been born eleven children, the eldest of whom, Katie, is the wife of Patrick Sullivan, of Warren Township; the others are: Henry, Florence the wife of George Hoffman, of Oklahoma, Indian Ter.; Joseph, Sherman, Nellie, Sauna, Jennie, Lavina, Grover C., and a babe unnamed. Henry has charge of the farm. Mr. Williams votes with the Democratic party, and has served as Justice of the Peace, Road Commissioner, Deputy Sheriff, was ax Collector twelve years in succession, and is serving his second term as a member of the Village Board of Trustees. He has been a resident of Apple River thirteen years. during which time he has remodeled his residence, and is living at ease in a pleasant and comfortable home.

Portraits & Biographical Jo Daviess Co IL 1889 Pg 793