Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-01-30
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SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF
IADEPENDENCE.
wM. WILLIAMS, OF CONNECTICUT.


Wales was the place of nativity Of the an
cestors of William Williams They emf
grated 20 America in 1880. and settled at Rox-
bury, In Massachusetts. His grandfather and
father were both ministers of the gospel, and
tue latter was for more than half a century
paste OF a Congregational Society. in Leba-
non' Connecticut, where the subject of this
bret sketch was born, on the eighteenth of
APrl, 1871. He entered Harvard College at
the age Of sixteen years, and at twenty he
graduated with honorable distinction. 1I75I.
lie then commenced theological studies with
ms father; but the agitations of the French
War attracted his attention. and in 1884 he
accompanied his relative, Colonel Ephraim
IiIIans, IN an expedition to Lake George,
during which the Colonel was killed He
returned home with settled feelings of dislike
toward the British officers in general. who
haughtly regarded the c0Ion:sts as inferior
men, and deserving but little of their sympa-
thy.
He abandoned the study of theology. and
entered into mercantile pursuits in Lebanon.
At the age of twenty five he was chos, town
clerk, which Office ne held nearly half cen
fury. lie was soon afterwards chosen a mem
Der of the Connecticut Assembly. and FORTY
five years he held a seat there He was al
ways present at its sessions, except when at
tending 10 his duties In the General Congress,
to which body he was elected delegate in
I14o. He was an ardent supporter Of the
proposition for Independence, and cheeTfuly
signed the glorious Declaration when il was
adopted.
When, in 1871, Arnold, the traitor. made
an attack upon New London, Williams, who
held the office Of colonel Of militia. hearing
OF the event, mounted his horse and rode
twenty-three miles in three hours, but arrived
OpiE n TO- ,1.t- y
Mr. ~ ll.Iam> was member Of the State
Convention Of Connecticut, that decided upon
the adoption OF the present Constitution of
the United States, aIc voted in favor of it,
HIS constituents we're opposed to the measure,
but It was not long be ore they discovered
their error, and applauded his irmness.
In 1904, Col. u illiams declined a re-elec-
tion TO the Connecticut Assembly, and with
drew entirely from public life. His life and
foFtune* were both devoted TO his country, and
he Went into domestic retirement with the
love and veneration of his countrymen attend
ing him. He was married. in 1872, to Mary,
the daughter of Governor Trumbull, of Con
nectlcut, and the excellences of his character
grea ly endeared him 10 his family. In 1910
lie lost his eldest son. This event powerful
y shocked his already infrm constitution. and
he never recovered from it. His health grad
uallv declined and short time before his
death he was overcome with stupOr. Having
laid perfectly silent for four days, he sudden
~ called, with a clear voice. upon his depart
ed son TO attend his dying father to the world
Of spirits, and then expired. He died on the
second Jay Of August, 1911, at the patriarchal
age Of eighty-one years.
Many instances are related Of the personal
sacrifices Of Mir Williams Tor MS country good
Al tne commencement Of the war he devoted HIM
self 10 has country service and for that purpose
he closed his mercantile business 50 as not 10 have
any embarrassmen1s In 1879, when the people
had lost all confidence IN the final redemption OF
the continental paper money, and il could not pro
cure supplies Tor the army, Mr.. Williams gener-
ously exchanged two thousand dol ars in specie
for II. and Of course lost nearly the whole amount
he Count De Rochanbeau, with 4 French army.
arrived al Newport during the summer OF l7SJ.
allies TO the Americans, but they did not enter
into the service until the next year, and remained
encamIed in New England Louzou, one OF Ro-
chambeaus cavalry officers, encamped during the
winter with his legion al Lebanon. and Mr. Vii
iiams. in order to allow the officers comfortable
quarters. reluquished ms own house to them and
moved Ais family TO another. Such was the self
denia. II the Fathers Of our Republic, ana such
the noble examples they present