The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-05-27
PASSED AWAY.
Death of J. T. Williams Friday
Night.
An Old and Respected Resident of Man.
kalO Goes to His Final Re.
ward.

Mr.. J. T. Williams died at twelve
o'clock Friday He had been sick
for about two weeks with pleuro-
pneumonia, and his age and the en-
feebled condition of his health COM
0lned to make his resisting powers of
small avail against the encroach-
ments of the disease. Mr.. Williams
was resting apparently easy last eve
ming, and it was thought that he
would survive the night, but at mid
night heart failure occurred, and
death came rather suddenly.
John T. Williams was born at Bryn
Mawr, Monmouth Rassa, Breconshire.
Wales, May 18th, 1928. His parents
died when he was five years old, and
since he was eight years of age he has
earned.own living, working hrst in the
coal mines of Beauford, Pen-y-cae, and
Iredegar. In the spring of 1S4S he
emlgrated to Beaver Meadow, Carbon
county, Pa, and worked in the coal
mines for two summers. He attend
ed school at Gibson, Pa, in the win
ter OF 1889 and at Wyoming Semi
nary from 1S49 to '53. He came to st.
Paul In the summer of 1854, and after
returning to Pennsylvania for the
winter came to South Bend in 1856.
where he opened a real estate Office.
He was elected clerk of the district
court in 1857 and county treasurer in
1861. In 1863 he was appointed, by
Hon. VIM. Window, secretary of the
House committee on Indian affairs, at
Washington, which position he held
until 1870. He was sargea ut at arms
OF the state senate in 1870, and II.
He was elected delegate to the Re.
publican national convention in 1872,
and was appointed special agent of
the post office department the same
year, which position he held until
July, 1878, when he was appointed
consul to St. Hellens, England. In
1851 ne was chosen one of the presi-
Dental electors from Minnesota.
The deceased always took an active
interest in politics. In the early
days he was a leader in the county,
and he won the confidence and warm
friendship of Mr.. Window. This
friendship proved very advantageous
to him, and when Mr.. Window died,
it was as severe a blow to him as
though near relative had been lost.
In the latter years of his life, Mr..
Williams was not in the enjoyment
OF good health. He was able, how
ever, to give some attention to the
insurance business conducted by him.
self and son. He in 1863, married
Miss Mary G. Wickersham, and five
children now mourn with their
mother the loss of kind and indul-
gent father and husband. There are
one son and four daughters, Theodore
Williams, Mrs. Viva Boyd, Mrs. Mel
lie Andrews, Misses Alice and Flossie
Williams. Mrs. Boyd resides in St.
Paul, and Mrs. Andrews in Minneapo-
lis. The sympathy of all will be ex-
tended to these in this hour of their
affection.
The death of Mr.. Williams causes
genuine sorrow in the community in
which he has so long resided and been
an active figure. He enjoyed wide
acquaintance. and was an upright
and public spirited citizen. His home
has been one of the pleasantest in the
city, and open handed hospitality
marked his character.
The funeral services will be held at
the residence on South Broad street
at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
Rev. Geo. FL. Davis will have charge
of the services, and the Presbyterian
choir will furnish the music. The
pail bearers will be L. G NJ. Fletcher,
j. III. Ray, Ed. Weaver, Thos.
Hughes, w. w. Paddock and JIG. Noe.
Mrs. Boyd and Mrs. Andrews are in
the citv