Biographical Sketch of

Jeremiah O. Williams

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 342 - 343

WILLIAMS Jeremiah O. Surnames: Christman, Fox, Swortfigure, Williams

Jeremiah O. Williams, a progressive farmer residing in section 25, in 
the town of Leon, Waushara County, is a native of the Green Mountain 
State. He was born in Chester, April 30, 1829, of Welsh parentage and 
is a son of Pardon Williams, whose birth occurred in the city of 
Providence, Rhode Island, whence he removed during the early days of his 
manhood to Vermont, where he lived the life of a well-to-do farmer until 
1832, when he removed to Jefferson County, New York, and again embarked 
in agricultural pursuits. He remained a useful citizen of the county 
until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-seven years. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Fox, was a native of Vermont, and 
they became acquainted after the removal of Mr. Williams to that State. 
She died in 1852, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. Both were members 
of the Universalist Church.

The subject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth in a family 
of ten children. His early life was spent under the parental roof, he 
remaining at home on the farm until twenty years of age, and in the 
meantime obtained a good education in the common schools of Jefferson 
County, N. Y. Attracted by the discovery of gold in California, in 1849, 
he made his way to the Pacific Slope, where for a time he worked in the 
gold mines and at intervals did considerable prospecting. After two 
years he returned ot the East, locating in Providence, Rhode Island, 
but his stay in that city was of short duration, and he again started 
Westward, his journey being this time only as far as St. Louis, Mo., 
where he remained until 1856. Going to Jefferson County, Wis., at the 
expiration of that time, his residence in that community covered a period 
of eight years, and in 1864 he made a trip to Montana and established 
himself in the overland freight business, his route at different times 
lying between various places. In that pursuit he successfully engaged for 
five years, after which he returned to Jefferson County, Wis., where the 
succeeding five years of his life were passed. Determining to make 
Waushara County his home, he purchased 120 acres of land in section 25, 
in the town of Leon, where he still resides.

On the 4th of April, 1872, Mr. Williams was joined in wedlock with Mrs. 
Eliza M. (Christman) Williams, who was born in New York, Aug. 22, 1833, 
and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Swortfigure) Christman, who 
were also natives of the Empire State. They have no children; but by her 
first husband, Alden Williams, the wife of our subject had five 
children -- Foster, Mary, Pardon, Adelaide and Lizzie. The second and 
third children are deceased, and the father died August 7, 1870.

Politically, Mr. Williams is a Democrat of the Jacksonian type, and while 
a resident of Jefferson County became a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
He is chiefly engaged in dairying and the raising of fine stock, his farm 
being especially adapted to that purpose. He is a valued and enterprising 
citizen and himself and family are held in high regard throughout the 
community. 







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