Biography of O. R. Williams
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Biography of O. R. Williams
| wellscc (View posts) | Posted: 26 Aug 2008 12:32PM GMT |
Classification: Biography
Surnames: Williams, Vennemmon, Smith, Slusher
From the Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana – printed in 1903 by B.F. Bowen, Publisher, Logansport, Indiana. Page 263-264
O. R. WILLIAMS.
This young and prosperous farmer of Jackson township, Wells County, Indiana, was born September 17, 1870, two miles south of Bluffton, on the state road, in the same county. J. W. Williams, father of O. R. Williams, was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, a son of Jesse Williams, and while still single came to Wells County, Indiana, about the year 1865, and began working at bridge building and also at cabinetmaking, in Bluffton, although he had been reared a blacksmith by his father, who was noted for his skill in this branch of the mechanical arts. He married, about 1867, Miss Martha Vennemmon, whose mother is still living at the age of ninety years.
After marriage J. W. Williams located on the farm two miles south of Bluffton, where his son, O. R. Williams, was born, but four years later came to Jackson township, and here lost his wife, June 10, 1884. In the September following, Mr. Williams married Mrs. Kittie Smith, who still lives to share with him the blessings as well as the sorrows of life. In 1900 J. W. Williams retired from farm life and now lives in Warren, enjoying in peace and comfort the competency his early industry gained him. To the first marriage of J. W. Williams were born three children, namely: Adrian, now a resident of Jackson township; O. R., whose name opens this biography, and William, who has his residence in Idaho. To the second marriage there has been no issue.
O. R. Williams attended the district schools of Jackson township, Wells County, Indiana, until he was seventeen years of age and assisted in the cultivation of the home place until he was twenty, when he went to the city of Butte, Montana, and worked in a smelter for a year, then returning to Wells County. Here he and his father purchased sixty acres of the farm on which he now lives., but which was then all in the woods. He set himself energetically to work and cleared off all but ten acres and in July, 1898, purchased his father's interest in the place.
In 1901 Mr. Williams erected a substantial and commodious barn on his farm and in 1902 began the erection of an elegant residence. He rents out his farming land, however, and devotes his attention to his oil wells, of which he owns five producers, which bring him in twenty-five to thirty dollars each per month, and he has not lost a day at this industry for the past three years.
Mr. Williams was joined in marriage November 23, 1893, with Miss Emma Slusher, a daughter of Josiah and Naomi Slusher, whose biography will be found on another page of this volume. To this happy marriage have been born four children, to-wit: Fred, November 8, 1894; Arthur, September 30, 1897; Howard, March 26, 1900; and an infant daughter, born October 10, 1902.
Mr. Williams is a member of Lodge No. 784, I.O.O.F., at McNatts, and in politics is a Republican. He is one of the respected young men in Jackson township, as it is well known that he has made all he is worth through his personal exertions, he having had nothing at the start, and having made his first "stake" of four hundred dollars while in Montana. His industry and strict integrity have always been matters of commendation by his neighbors, and he and his estimable wife are held in the highest regard by all classes of the community.
Transcribed by wwkly@citznet.com
O. R. WILLIAMS.
This young and prosperous farmer of Jackson township, Wells County, Indiana, was born September 17, 1870, two miles south of Bluffton, on the state road, in the same county. J. W. Williams, father of O. R. Williams, was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, a son of Jesse Williams, and while still single came to Wells County, Indiana, about the year 1865, and began working at bridge building and also at cabinetmaking, in Bluffton, although he had been reared a blacksmith by his father, who was noted for his skill in this branch of the mechanical arts. He married, about 1867, Miss Martha Vennemmon, whose mother is still living at the age of ninety years.
After marriage J. W. Williams located on the farm two miles south of Bluffton, where his son, O. R. Williams, was born, but four years later came to Jackson township, and here lost his wife, June 10, 1884. In the September following, Mr. Williams married Mrs. Kittie Smith, who still lives to share with him the blessings as well as the sorrows of life. In 1900 J. W. Williams retired from farm life and now lives in Warren, enjoying in peace and comfort the competency his early industry gained him. To the first marriage of J. W. Williams were born three children, namely: Adrian, now a resident of Jackson township; O. R., whose name opens this biography, and William, who has his residence in Idaho. To the second marriage there has been no issue.
O. R. Williams attended the district schools of Jackson township, Wells County, Indiana, until he was seventeen years of age and assisted in the cultivation of the home place until he was twenty, when he went to the city of Butte, Montana, and worked in a smelter for a year, then returning to Wells County. Here he and his father purchased sixty acres of the farm on which he now lives., but which was then all in the woods. He set himself energetically to work and cleared off all but ten acres and in July, 1898, purchased his father's interest in the place.
In 1901 Mr. Williams erected a substantial and commodious barn on his farm and in 1902 began the erection of an elegant residence. He rents out his farming land, however, and devotes his attention to his oil wells, of which he owns five producers, which bring him in twenty-five to thirty dollars each per month, and he has not lost a day at this industry for the past three years.
Mr. Williams was joined in marriage November 23, 1893, with Miss Emma Slusher, a daughter of Josiah and Naomi Slusher, whose biography will be found on another page of this volume. To this happy marriage have been born four children, to-wit: Fred, November 8, 1894; Arthur, September 30, 1897; Howard, March 26, 1900; and an infant daughter, born October 10, 1902.
Mr. Williams is a member of Lodge No. 784, I.O.O.F., at McNatts, and in politics is a Republican. He is one of the respected young men in Jackson township, as it is well known that he has made all he is worth through his personal exertions, he having had nothing at the start, and having made his first "stake" of four hundred dollars while in Montana. His industry and strict integrity have always been matters of commendation by his neighbors, and he and his estimable wife are held in the highest regard by all classes of the community.
Transcribed by wwkly@citznet.com