THOMAS R. WILLIAMS, Superintendent of the Cass County Poor Farm, was born in Bertie county, North Carolina, June 1, 1850. He is the son of Williamson A. and Margaret (Thomas) Williams, natives of Bertie county, North Carolina. The family is an old one in the State. The parents lived on a farm until after the birth of six children, and in the fall of 1856 removed to Illinois by wagon, and settled in this favored section, not far from Bluff Springs. They rented for two years, and then purchased the farm where they lived, when the mother died in May, 1884, three-score-and ten. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her husband remained on the farm for two years longer, and then went to Beardstown, and one year later came to Bluff Springs, and here spent his last years, dying in October, 1888. He was a good citizen, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a stanch Democrat, and a very worthy man.

Our subject and his brother are the only members of the family now living. Mr. Williams has lived in this county since he was six years of age, and has been a practical farmer since he was twenty-two years of age. He took charge of the Poor Farm in 1887, after his brother had managed it for eight years. It is located at Bluff springs, and consists of more than 100 acres of fine land. It is well managed by Mr. Williams.

The average poor in attendance all the time is about twelve, and there is but one feeble-minded person among them.

Our subject was married in this county to Sophia Reichert, born in Beardstown, in 1857, reared and educated in Cass County, and a daughter of Conrad and Sophia Reichert of Germany. The mother died in the prime of life, in Cass county. Mr. Reichert was married the second time to Mrs. Withroe, and they live in Beardstown, now quite old.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three children: Charles F., John F. and Howard, all at home. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Williams is a Democrat. The county has the right man in the right place.