Polk County Oregon W Biographies

Wayne W. Williams came to Oregon in 1845, when he was only eight months old. He was born March 1, 1845, in Jackson county, Missouri, and is the son of James E. Williams, who was born in Tennessee, in 1803. He was of Scotch ancestry, who came to the southern part of the United States prior to the Revolution. Mr. Williams’ father married Martha Witchen, a native of Virginia, born in 1807. They had nine children in Missouri and one of them died. In 1845 Mr. Williams took his wife and children and crossed the plains with oxen. The journey was a safe one, of six months’ duration. They arrived at Airlie, Polk county, took up a donation claim, and were one of the first families to settle there. They followed the example of other pioneers and erected a cabin. They endured many hardships here, living par tof the time on boiled wheat, as the nearest place for supplies was Oregon City. During the gold excitement of 1849, the father went to California, where he met with some success. He was absent for a year, when he returned and turned his attention to farming and stock-rising. He took an active part in the politics of the Territory and was elected to the first Territorial Legislature by the Democratic party. He also served as Justice of the Peace in his part of the county and died in 1865. His wife survived him until 1881. Three children were added to the family in Oregon. The names of the family are as follows: J.L., resides in Moscow, Idaho; Orlena, married Isaac Staats; J.J., resides in Airlie; Melissa married Henry Fuller; Mary A., married Luther M. Doolittle; F.B., resides on the old donation claim; W.W., subject; Martha M., married Mr. Noltner and died in her forth-fifth year; Marcus M., died in his eighteenth year, and W.E., who also resides on the old donation claim.

Our subject was the ninth child and was reared on the donation claim, where he was furnished with bus scant educational privileges. He remained at home until his twenty-third year, when he took up a claim and resided on it for two years and then removed east of the mountains, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1879, when he returned to this county and bought a residence in Independence and engaged in draying and trucking for five years. Since then he has been engaged in raising hops. A large portion of his time has been occupied in fulfilling the duties of the offices which were thrust upon him. He served as Marshal of the city and Constable of five precincts.

He was married in 1868, to Miss Virginia A. Tarter, native of Arkansas, and daughter of Mr. Robert Tarter, who came to Oregon in 1853 and settled on the Luckamute, where he purchased a farm and was a quiet, industrious citizen. His wife died in her fifty-fourth year, and he survived her until he was sixty-eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had four children, namely: Willie, died when seven months old; Martha Alice, wife of Rev. V. Poling, a minister of the Evangelical Church; Robert Edward; and Rock Wayne.

Mr. Williams is a prominent citizen and a member of I.O.O.F., in all its branches. He is also a member of K of P and A.O.U.W. His entire life has been spent in Oregon, and he is a lover of the State where he makes his home. He is very proud of the advance and development of this State during his lifetime.

An Illustrated history of the state of Oregon, Rev. H.K. Hines, Lewis Pub. Co. 1893
©Shauna Williams

William E. Williams, of Airlie, Polk Co., Oregon, is the youngest son of James E. Williams, an honored pioneer of 1845. Mr. Williams as the honor of being the owner of 640 acres of land, on which his father settled in 1845, and on which he was born March 7, 1852. He is a fine looking gentleman, with bright dark eyes, weighs 275 pounds, but is very active. He can run and jump on a horse without touching him. Mr. Williams is one of the representative sons of Oregon, and one of whom his State has no reason to be ashamed.

Mr. Williams tells the following story in connection with the early settlement of his father in Oregon: Mr. Williams, Sr., brought his wife and seven children with him to Oregon, and the first night they were in Polk county they camped on the banks of the Luckamutte. During the night there was a severe storm and the river rose. Of course the camp was flooded and they were obliged to clamber out in the darkness and move their tent to higher ground. They were used to being wet and cold, but this seemed a little worse than any other wetting they had been subject to during their long trip. Mr. Williams, Sr., selected a donation claim, and by steady, hard work, succeeded in making a success of his life in Oregon. He was very important in the politics of the Territory, being elected to the Territorial Legislature and having held several county offices. He died in 1865, aged sixty-two, and his good wife died in 1885, aged seventy-five.

The subject of this sketch was thirteen years old at the time of his father’s death. He was reared on the farm, attended the public schools and remained with his mother became her right-hand man in running the farm, until her death. He inherited fifty-three acres of his father’s land, and with his mother’s aid he added to it from time to time and bought the interest of the other heirs, and at his mother’s death became the owner of the entire property. One of the finest claims of this rich valley. Mr. Williams is a member of I.O.O.F., and in politics he is a stanch Democrat. He devotes the whole of his attention to his farm. He resides contentedly on his farm, where he has spent all his life.

Mr. Williams was married October 7, 1876, to Miss American A. Price, daughter of F.R. Price and Gilla (Simpson) Price. She was born in Polk county, February 7, 1856. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Missouri, and they were Oregon pioneers of 1846. They were Baptists in religion and were worthy people, who died in 1873 and February 14, 1890, respectively. Six of their children are still living and are respectable, well-to-do farmers of Polk county. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had four children, all sons, namely: Marcus Clyde, Wayde Hampton; Floyd Alexander, and William E. Jr.

Mr. Williams is a pleasant, hospitable gentleman. His early boyhood home was the home of all the itinerant preachers, those of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in particular, as his father was of that faith, but from that door none were turned away, and his son is just as hospitable.