Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-11
COL. wILLUUGHsY WILLIAMS.
A Remarkable Man Born in the
Last Century.
HIS Death aud a Sketch OF His
Life.
Nashrille Amerinan. 3.

us uauButtI, ura. W lftOu W. LOWE,
of that city.
Colonel Willoughby Williams was
a North Carolinian by birth, having
been born near Snowfall, in what is
now Greene county, on the l4th Of
June, 1898. His father was a Welsh
man, and was a Major in the Revolu-
t%ionary War, surviving through the
war, and although his willow, the
mother of Colonel Williams. alter
wards married Governor McMinn,
by some special legislation she drew a
pension during her lite. She lived to
quite an advanced age, and died in
1856. She was the daughter of Col.
James Glasgow, who was t one time
Secretary of State of North Carolina
Colonel Williams married Miss
Nancy d. Nichols, the daughter Of
Captain John Nichols, an estimable
lady, with whom be lived, using his
own words, In the most perfect love
and harmony for q years. when she
died, causing such a shock to IN feel
iugs that | was only sustained by the
consciousness that neither in word
nor deed had | ever caused a tear 10
tall from her eve or a psng to cross
her BOSOM" For 81 years he had
remained a widower, pretering the
sweet memories of a happy married
life 30 the risk of experimenting in
sacred relations. From the death of
his wife, his life had been devoted
constant, unceasing labor-to the
children Of his happy marriage. Uf
niue children born. six are still living,
tO-wit John H.. Williams, Mrs
Mary Jane MeNairy, widow of Col.
R. c. MeNairy; McLemore II. Viii
liams, Willoughby Williams, if.
Ellen, wife Of Marion W. Lewis;
Nancy d., wife OF G.N. Nichol. Robt
N. Williams married the daughter OF
the late S,muel ID. Morgan, and died,
leaving a,fimily OF children. Andrew
j.. was killed in the late war. The
other child died 10 infancy.
1he highest point in the life o fCol.
Williams was q virtue based on supe-
rior Judgment, which has been de-
veloped in but few characters, to-wit:
that of persistently eseheEing the
alluremeats of office aud firmly resist
ing all attempts to bring him into
public life, to the detriment Of a Low
ing and beloved family, and to the
substitution Of petty annoyances for
the sweet c ljoyment of a happy pater
nal home.
When a young man, Col Williams
was for six years Sheriff Of Davidson
county, and e%venIin his declining years
be remembered With the greatest
pleasure that after going out OF Office
he was neverin asingle instance called
on to explain one of his many official
acts.
At one time-about l837-the Pres.
ident Of the Bank Of Tennessee having
resigned, in his absence, he, being at
the time engaged in planting in Flor
ida, was, without his kno Wedge,
unanimously elected President Of the
bank which was in suspension, and in
the estimation of the board Of diree
tors imperatively demanded for its
restoration his Superior and well known
financial skill, This, he, upon notice,
promptly declined; but coming home
his friends, Governor Carroll, George
w Campbell and others prevailed on
him for the safety Of the then compar.
atively new State bank, and for the
Democratic party, for which he was
always willing to work, to accept.
Continuing y this position only
until he brought about resumption, be
resigned and assumed control of his
private affairs. Planting in Florida
during the Seminole war was so haz-
ardous that be broke up and moved
most Of his slaves to Arkansaw. where
he remained planting until the war
came, which emancipated his slaves.
Having about FIVE hundred slaves, he
removed them to the BRACES Bottom.
Texas, and then brought them Gree
people, back to Arksnsaw.
The end of the war brought not
only the emancipation Of his slaves.
but found him 10 debt, mostly surety
for his friends, about three hundred
thousand dollars. Nearly all in a like
situation went into bankruptcy, but
though nearly seventy years old, he
resolved to struggle through, and, even
at his death vas one Of the most sue
cessful planters in Arkansaw.
Still making Tennessee his home as
he had always done, he spent
about half his time on his plantation
in Arkansaw, looking closely after his
large plantation interests, and by his
superior judgement was making the
raising of cotton profitable to himself
as well as large numbers of his former
slaves. His relations with them were
Of the most friendly character, and he.
knowing their weaknesses and they his
worth, the rights Of either we're never
infracted.
Colonel Williams father died when
he was only four years old, at a camp
near cambridge, in East Tennessee.
when the family were moving from
North Carolina.
While very young Willoughby went
into a store at Knoxville, and worked
as a store boy on a salary sufficient 10
buy his clothes, and then for a time at
Abingdon, Va. His mother having
stopped in Roane county, in East
Tennessee, after the death of his
father, he came first to Nashville.
riding on horseback, in company with
her, TO visit his two aunts, Mrs. Col
Donelson, whose husband was the
brother Of Mrs. jackson and Mrs.
Judge Whyte.
Remaining for nearly a year this
time, he was much at the house OF
General jackson, and being a boy Of
quick perception, he imbibed many of
his Lifetime ways from that early visit
to the coming great hero. His next
visit to Nashville was in 1913, when
nc witnessed, and was the only man
who ever did witness, the fight be.
tween jackson and the Bentops.
Nashville became his home in 1878.
The connection between himself aud
the jackson family brought him, at a
very early day, into close relations
with the old General, and it can be
said, with absolute certainty that Of ali
the men now living, none were so close
to jackson for SO Tonga time. A man
Of the greatest prudence, and himself
OF unbounded popularity, Of good ad.