Lewis C. Williams Biography
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
Farming interests in Paris township find a worthy representative in Lewis C.
Williams, who makes his home on Section 29. Reared upon this farm, he has aways
carried on general agricultural pursuits and has kept abreast with changing
conditions and improvements in methods of farm work. He was born April 12, 1866,
his parents being Lewis and Margaret Ann (Evans) Williams, natives of
Radnorshire, Wales.
The family was founded in the new world by Lewis Williams, the grandfather of
Lewis C. Williams of this review, who on crossing the Atlantic, cast in his lot
with the pioneer settlers of Kenosha County at a period when the work of
development and progress had scarcely been begun in this locality. He purchased
eighty acres of land from the government, and upon the farm which he improved
spent his remaining days, but from time to time extended its boundaries until he
was enjoying the income from four hundred acres. He passed away at the age of
eighty-four, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Meredith, died in
middle life.
Their son, Lewis Williams, became a shepherd in Wales and, when about nineteen
years of age, accompanied his parents to the United States. Following his
arrival in Kenosha County in 1843, he was for a time employed by John Bullen of
Kenosha, but he was very ambitious and resolved that his labors should more
directly benefit himself. He therefore carefully saved his earnings until the
sum amounted to over one hundred dollars, at which time he walked to Milwaukee
and purchased eighty acres of land, and with each succeeding one hundred dollars
which he earned, he made a similar investment. His first purchase was on Section
29, Paris Township, and from time to time he added to the property, while year
by year he carried on the work of development and improvement. He died October
27, 1903 in the eighty-third year of his age, and his wife passed away October
26, 1875, at the age of thirty-five years. Realizing the lack of an education
because of his own limited school privileges in youth, Mr. Williams was ever a
strong advocate of the establishment of good schools in his community, and he
provided his children with the best advantages possible.
In the maternal line Lewis C. Williams also comes of an old Welsh family. His
maternal grandfather died in Wales when a young man, after which his widow, Mrs.
Maria Evans, came to America with her two daughters: Maria, who is the widow of
Charles Dane; and Margaret Ann, who became Mrs. Williams. Following the
establishment of her home in America, Mrs. Evans became the wife of William
Jones, by whom she had three children, all now deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones
passed away at an advanced age. As stated, their daughter, Margaret Ann, became
the wife of Lewis Williams, the marriage being celebrated June 4, 1852. To them
were born eight children: Charley, who died at the age of twelve years; Sarah,
who was a high school student in Kenosha, and is now the wife of Gomer Roberts,
living in Union Grove; Frank, who died at the age of eight years; Julia, who
died at the age of two years; Belle, who attended the Kenosha High School and is
the widow of Ernest Moe; Lewis C.; Nellie N., who was educated in the Brandon
High School in Burlington, Vermont, and in Evanston, Illinois, and for several
years was a capable school teacher in this county prior to her marriage to F. W.
Keuper, a druggist of Union Grove; and Margaret A., who after studying in the
Northwestern University at Evanston, pursued a course in the Conservatory at
Evanston and is now the wife of William Walker of Milwaukee.
Since the arrival of Lewis Williams, Sr., and his family in Kenosha County,
representatives of the name have taken an active and helpful part in promoting
the development of this section of the State, and Lewis Williams, the father of
Lewis C. Williams, was very active in advancing the interests of the community
along many lines. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party,
and he served as Supervisor of his township, but would not consent to hold
public office, although for some time he was officially connected with the
schools. Wherever he could give his aid to advance a cause for public good,
however, his assistance was generous and hearty, and there was no one who
rejoiced more sincerely in the welfare and progress of the county. Starting out
in life on his own account by working at a salary of thirteen dollars per month,
he advanced step by step until he was one of the largest landowners and most
prosperous citizens of this part of the state, his realty interests aggregating
forteen hundred and eighty-three acres, while upon his farm he engaged in the
cultivation not only of the cereals best adapted to the soil, but also engaged
in raising fine herds of cattle, sheep and horses. In all of his business
dealings he was thoroughly reliable as well as enterprising. He never took
advantage of the interests of his fellowmen in any business transaction and
among those who knew him his name became a synonym for business reliability.
As stated, it was always the object of Lewis Williams to give his children
excellent educational privileges, and enjoying the advantages thus secured,
Lewis C. Williams after attending the Brandon High School continued his studies
in Ripon College and also became a student in the Law Department of the State
University at Ann Arbor, Michigan. All of his life he has lived upon the old
homestead where his father settled, and he is now the owner of six hundred and
eighty acres. He has made many improvements upon his land, erecting modern
buildings and securing modern equipment and all of the accessories which
facilitate farm work. He never falters in what he undertakes but carries
everything forward to successful completion, possessing the characteristic
energy, determination and integrity which have marked the Williams family.
On the 11th of May 1895, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Williams and Miss
Mary Crane, a daughter of William and Ann (Sparks) Crane, who at the era of
pioneer development in Racine County settled in Dover Township, where he carried
on general agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. He
was long survived by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline Sparks and
who reached the age of seventy-six years. Having lost her first husband, Mrs.
Crane became the wife of Uriah Richards of Lake County, Illinois. William Crane
was born in Somersetshire, England, and had reached manhood and married before
he crossed the Atlantic. He wedded Ann Sparks, also a native of Somersetshire
and a daughter of Richard and Sophia (Linham) Sparks, who spent their entire
lives in England. Her father, who was a butcher by trade, passed away when well
advanced in years. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. William Crane crossed
the Atlantic and established their home upon a farm of forty acres in Dover
Township, Racine County, Wisconsin. Later, however, they crossed the line into
Kenosha County, taking up their abode in Paris Township. They became the parents
of six children: Sophia, the deceased wife of Benjamin Morris of Fargo, North
Dakota, her first husband having been T. R. Morris, a brother of her second
husband; Clifford T., deceased; Charles, occupying the old homestead in Paris
Township; Caroline, the wife of Herbert Barnes of Fargo, North Dakota; Mary, now
Mrs. Williams; and William, a farmer of Paris Township. Mr. and Mrs. Crane were
members of the Episcopal church when residents of England, but after coming to
the new world joined the Methodist church, and they led earnest Christian lives,
guided at all times by the highest religious principles.
Their daughter Mary was the fifth in order of birth in their family of six
children and by her marriage she has become the mother of three sons and a
daughter: Willard Francis, Judson Sparks, Margaret Ann and Lewis, the last named
being a representative in the family of the fourth generation to bear the name
of Lewis Williams. From the beginning of their residence in this county the
Williams family have always been prominent socially, and the hospitality of the
best homes has been freely extended them. Lewis C. Williams has conducted his
life according to the teachings of his youth, and his integrity, enterprise and
reliability stand as unquestioned facts in his career. Those who know him
entertain for him the warmest regard, and his circle of friends is constantly
growing as his circle of acquaintances increases.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock