Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-12
AN OLD PIONEER,
Col. WiIleughby Williams, Passes Away
Bearing With Him the Love and
Reverence OF the
paonIe Of Tennessee-The Career OF a
Good Citizen Hhose Span Measured
The Life of the State.

.,nernected. eyesi, says Col. WilloUghby
Williams was North Carolinian by birth,
having been born near SBowhfll, in what is
now Greene connt-, on the I4ih OIL ) nnei
1898. HE father was Welshman, and was
a major in the Revolutionary war, SURVIVING
through the war, and althonsn MS Tioom'
the mother of Col. Williams, afterward mar
ried Gov NcMinn, by some special IegIsla-
tiep she drew pension during her HE: Sne
lived to quite an advanced age, and died IN
1856. she was the daughter OF Col. James
Glasgow, who was atone time secretary OF
state of North Carolina. Col. Williams
married Miss Nancy D. Nichols, the daugh-
ter of Capt. John Nichols, an estlmable lady'
with whom he lived, usi1g his own Words,
"in the most perfect harmony for twenty-one
years, when she died, causing such shock
TO my feelings that l wss only sustained
by the consciousness that neither IN "ord
nor deed had 1 ever caused tear to tall
from her eye or pang to cross her bosom"
For thiriy-hve years he had rem AIMED
wIdower, preferring the sweet memories OF a
happy married life 10 the risk Of expert
nenting in sacred relations. From the death
of HE vile his life had been devo.ed-con-
slant, unceasing labor-to the children OF
his happy marriage. o. nire children born,
six are still living namely, John II. Viii,
liam,, MTs Hssy Jane Mc cs WIDOW Nj 81
lizms, Willoughby Williams, jr, Ellen, wife
of Marion w. Lewis; Nancy d., wife of C
N. Nichols. Robert n. Williams married
the daughter of the late Samuel ID. Morgan
and died, leaving Family of children. An
drew J. was killed in the late war. The
other child died in infancy,
The highest point 10 tie life oil Col. VIII
liAms was a virtue based on superior judg
ment, which has been developed in but few
l. - - Ii
eschewinz the allurements OF Office and
frniy resisting all attempts to bring him into
public life, to the aetrirnent OF loving aue
beloved family, and to the substitution Of
petty enuc ancestor the sweet enjoyment Of
a happy paternal home. Wheo a yonpe
m an, Col. Williams was for six years sheriH
of Davidson county, and even in his declin.
ing years he remembered with the greatest
pleasure that sitter going out OF Office he wsf
never in single INSTANCE called on TO ex'
plain one OF his many official acts.
AT one time-about 1837-tbe president
of the Bank of 'Tennessee having resigned
in his absence, he, heing at the time engaged
in planting in Florida, was, without his
knowledge, unanimously elected president oil
the bank, which was in suspension, and in
the estimation of the Board Of Directors in
peratively demanded for its restoration his
superior and well-known financial skill.
This he, upon notice, promptly declined; but
coming home his friends, Gov. Carroll,
George Campbell and others, prev upon
him for the safety of the then comparatively
new State Bank. and for the Democratic
party, for which he was always willing 10
work, to accept. Continuing in this position
only until he brought about resumption, he
resigned and assumed control of his. private
affairs. Planting in Florida during the
Seminole war was SO hsz ardous tn at he broke
up and removed most of his slaves 10 Ar
kansas, where he remained planting until
the war came. which emanci pated his slaves.
Having about 500 slaves he removed them
TO the Brszos bottom, Texas, and then
brought them (free people, back to Arkansas.
The end of the war brought not only the
emancipation of his slaves, but found him in
debt, mostly surety for his friends, about
100000 Nearly all in like situation went
into bankruptcy, but, though nearly seventy
years old, he resolved to struggle through,
and even at his death was one of the mos;
successful planters in Arkansas.
Still making Tennessee his hosae, as he
had always done, he spent about half his
time on his plantation fn Arkansas, looking
closely after his large plantation interest.
and by his superior judgment was making
the raising of cotton profitable te himself as
well as large numbers of his former slaves.
His relations with them were of the most
friendly character, and, he knowing their
and they his worth, the rights of
either were never infracted.
Remaining for nearly year this time, he
was much at the house of Gen. jackson, and
being boy of quick perception, he imbibed
many Of his lifetims ways from that early
visit 10 the coming great hero. His next
visit 10 Nashville was in 1913, when he wit
messed, and was the only man who ever did
witness, the fight between Jackson and the
Bentons. Nashville became his home in
1918. The connection between himself and
the jackson family brought him, at a yery
early day, into close relations with the old
general, and il can be said, with absolute
that of all the men now living.
none were so close to Jackson for SO long
lime. A man of the greatest prudence, and
himself OF unbounded popularity, of good
address and stately No anners, and firmly fixed
in all the princi Piles of Democratic govern
ment, Gen. ] Jackson looked upon him through
ali his struggles as one of his staunche.t and
most reliable friends. The relations between
Col. Williams and Col Sam Houston. at the
lime in the history OF that great man when
ne resigned the Ofice of governor of
Tennessee, and put Tennessee's greatest
ecret under cover, of separating from
lis wife without telling the world the cause,
we're OF most intimate and confident
haracter. 1t was to him tn at Gen. Houston
'erhaps communicated his purpose, and to
nm were intrusted some of the details of
his most extraordinary move; but it is due
o the memory of the hero of San Jacinto
hat, SO far as Col. Williams knows, or be-
leves, he never, through his life, commune
ated to any person living the secrets of this
omestic tragedy.
Although having lived 10 be eighty-iye
ears old, Col. Williams had been a man of
trict temperance and uniform habits. never
and never playing q game of
ards for amusement. He attributed his
uccess In life IN great measure to the adj
Ice given him by his lifetime friend and
dviser, Gen. Jackson. With him, next 10
ne sweet memory of his wife and he love of
lib children, the name of Andrew Jackson
Tas most sacred. He was living evidence
4 what has become historical, that Gen.
ackson's friends were devoted 10 him in a
manner exceeding even the devotion of Ma
'oleon's followers.
Col. Wllliams's father died when he was
MY iour years old, a. camp near Dan
ridge, In East Tennessee, when the family |
'ere moving from North Carolina,
While very young Willoughby went into
store at Knoxville, and worked as a store |
oy on salary sufficient to buy his clothes. |
nd then for time at Abingdon, Va. His |
iotner having stopped in Roane county. in |
last Tennessee, after the death of his father, |
came first to Nashville, riding on horse
ack, IN company with her, to visit his two |
nnts, Mrs. Col. Donaldson, whose husband |
as the brother of Mrs. Jackson and Mrs I
udge Whyte.
10 1880 he, with his own hand, wrote ND
lie early historical events of Davidson conn.
= giving fImilies, their marriages and
saths, together with localities, roads and
any incidents of early life in DIvidson
unity, which for detail is without parallel.
ming from one mans recollection of old
mes. w"
Coi. Williams was OF medium size. remark
ny erect, with strong face, full of decis.
o, as well as benevolence. He was one of
e most companionable of men, quick of
eecn' accurate OF thought, chaste of Ian
emory OF past events and people he had no
er. he was living library of all that
. taken place in Tennessee since 1909.
ApAGKUE