WINFIELD S. WILLIAMS, a prominent farmer of Valley Township, is the son of Sumner G. Williams, who was born in Bangor, Maine, and who received a common school education attending the same school with one of our eminent statesmen. His father was a farmer near Bangor, and there were nine children in his family, only three of whom, except his father, our subject remembers, namely: Charles, Samuel and Otis.

Mr. Williams left his native state at the age of twenty-five years and went to New York City, where he resided for several years. He was there married to Ann Wood, and they were the parents of five children: Gertrude V., Albion A., Winfield S., Joseph and Mable. Immediately after his marriage he moved to Indiana, settling on a farm in St. Joseph County, near South bend. He was in that county before the Indians were removed beyond the Mississippi Rover. He worked on his farm and followed his trade, carpentering, for many years. He now resides in South Bend, where he owns city property. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Williams was one of the early Masons of South Bend, a pioneer who took pride in the progress of the county. He has always been an honorable and industrious man.

Winfield S., the subject of this sketch, was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, fourteen miles south of South Bend, and was reared to the life of a farmer. In 1872 he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, settling on his present farm of eighty acres, a part of which he has since laid off in town lots.

He was married in Avoca to Miss Eliza Sanders, daughter of W.H. and Sarah (Wakeman) Sanders. The father went to Michigan in an early day, and settled at Ypsilanti, and then when Iowa was a new state he came to Davenport where he remained until 1870 when he settled in Avoca. He was the father of six children: Wakeman, Stephen, Frank, Sarah E., Lynos and Linn. Mr. Sanders is yet living in Avoca.

To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born eight children, viz.: Mabel, Frank, Winfield S., Grove, Clara (deceased at seven years), Earl (died at six years), Joseph and Ray. In politics Mr. Williams is a stanch Republican. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Hancock, a part of which is on his farm. He was the first Postmaster. Socially he is an Odd Fellow.