Jonathan Smith Williams (1827 - 1903)

WILLIAMS, BARTNESS, OVERTON, CLARK

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 7/11/2022 at 10:18:33

Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record, Lewis Publishing Company, 1886, page 55.

JONATHAN SMITH WILLIAMS, one of the oldest pioneers of Clarke County, residing on section 28, Green Bay Township, was born in Green County, Indiana, May 16, 1827, a son of Oren and Mary (Bartness) Williams, the father a native of Saratoga Springs, New York, and the mother born in Kentucky. They were the parents of five children-- Sarah Ann, J. S., George B., Nancy G. and Elizabeth Ann. Jonathan S., our subject, was the second child of the family. He remained in his native county till seven years of age, when the family removed to Edgar County, Illinois. After living in Edgar County three years, they returned to Greene County, our subject being reared to manhood in Green and Martin counties, Indiana. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood.

August 30, 1849, he was married to Louvisa Overton, of Greene County, Indiana, a daughter of William and Nancy (Clark) Overton, her father being a native of Tennessee, and one of the first settlers of Clarke County, Iowa. To this union were born ten children-- Gillham Bartness, Mary Evalina, Nancy Ellen, Emily Isabel, Orville Gustavus, Almira, Oren Monroe, Viola Louvisa, Jonathan Norville and Nora Amy. Emily, Orville and Almira are deceased.

In September, 1849, Mr. Williams started with his family by team for Iowa, and spent his first winter in this State in Monroe County. April 27, 1850, he pre-empted a claim of 320 acres where he now resides, and in December of the same year his family located on the farm which is situated one and a half miles north of Weldon. He has improved his land and brought it under fine cultivation. The log house in which he first settled has been replaced by his present substantial frame residence, and his barns and outbuildings are noticeably good. His orchard, which covers five acres, is one of the best in Clarke County.

In politics Mr. Williams affiliates with the Democratic party. He has served as justice of the peace, township assessor and has been a member of the school board. He is a member of Osceola Lodge, No. 77, A.F. & A.M. He is a member of the Christian church, of which he is an elder. During his long residence of thirty-six years Mr. Williams has always taken an active interest in every movement calculated to promote the public welfare, and is numbered among the best citizens of the county.