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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 384-385
JOHN S. WILLIAMS (deceased) was for many years an honorable and industrious farmer in Grant county, and is well remembered in the town of Hazel Green as a thoroughly upright and public-spirited man.
Mr. WILLIAMS was born in Cornwall, England, in April, 1820, where he received a fair education, and remained until after he reached his majority. While still living in England he married Miss Susan Bosanco, and she accompanied him to Wisconsin, whither he came many years ago, very early in the history of Grant county, engaging in lead mining for some years. In 1850 he crossed the Plains to the gold fields of California, and spent some three years in the mines. Coming back to Wisconsin, he settled on a farm three miles west of Hazel Green, and at that home Mrs. WILLIAMS died, leaving eleven children who lived to reach mature age: (1) Susan, born in Grant county, in 1846, is now the wife of Frank LIGHTCAP, of Winnipeg, Canada. (2) Honor, born in April, 1848, married Joseph THOMAS, of Shellsburg, Wis. (3) Hannah, born in 1850, married James D. ROGERS, of Smelser. (4) John, born in 1852, married Miss Nettie JELLETT, of Hazel Green, lives in Platteville, and is the father of four children, Hattie, Vivian, Raymond, and Irene. (5) Urias, born in January, 1856, married and settled in Sioux Falls, S. Dak., and is the father of two children, Irene and Warner. (6) William, born in February, 1859, married Miss Sallie PRICE, of Galena, Ill., and lives in South Dakota; he is the father of one daughter, Elsie. (7) Sarah, born in May, 1861, married Thomas MANN, and lives in Sutherland, Iowa, where she is rearing her family of children. (8) Mary, born in February, 1864, married Rev. Richard BROWN, and lives in Minneapolis. They have one daughter, Joie. (9) Grant, born in April, 1866, married, and lives in LeMars, Iowa. (10) Alfred, born in October, 1868, married Miss Naomi JEWELL, of Hazel Green, where he is living. (11) Thomas A., born in September, 1870, is married, and lives near Sibley, Iowa, where he is engaged in farming.
John S. WILLIAMS and Miss Elizabeth COOMBE were married in January, 1887. Mrs. WILLIAMS was the daughter of William and Elizabeth COOMBE, old and prominent pioneers of Grant county, who came from England at a very early day, settling in the town of Hazel Green. Here Mrs. WILLIAMS received her education, in the public schools, and here she grew to womanhood. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS lived on a farm some two years, and then purchased the Edward THOMPSON home, in the village of Hazel Green in which house Mr. WILLIAMS spent the remaining years of his life, dying April 23, 1900. There were no children by the second marriage. There were no children by the second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS were both members of the Methodist Church, which received a liberal support from the family, and he was one of the officers of the church for many years. In politics he was ever an ardent Republican, and had always taken an active part in local affairs.
Mr. WILLIAMS began life in this country a poor man, and by long and unflagging industry, and wise management became quite prosperous. He was a good man, and left a wide circle of friends. Mrs. WILLIAMS is a lady much respected for her many virtues, and much of her time is spent in unostentatious charity and genuine Christian work.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck