Williams, Henry D.

WILLIAMS, CREW

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/30/2013 at 15:08:02

HENRY D. WILLIAMS, manufacturing and selling open-ditching machines, Anamosa; is a native of Belmont Co., Ohio, and was born October 7, 1819; he grew up to manhood in Ohio, and came to Iowa in June, 1857, and settled in Linn Co. and engaged in farming; in 1862, he came to Jones Co. and engaged in farming; in 1871, he invented his ditching machine; he came to Anamosa and engaged, in manufacturing and selling the machine, which works with great success, and can cut from 80 to 126 rods of ditching per day. Mr. Williams has held town and school offices. He married Rachel Crew, a native of Belmont Co., Ohio, October 5, 1843; they have ten children, two sons—Francis R., Professor in Iowa City Commercial College, and Joseph, Assistant in the same school, and eight daughters—Ann, Martha, Margaret, Edith, Velina, Rebecca, Emeline, Almeda; they lost two children—Mary and Thomas.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 583.