The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-21
Henry Williams, Former Mayor of the
City, Expired at the Old Homestead
on Prairie Avenue Friday Night.
WAS A PIONEER OF SOUTHPORT
Served the City for Twelve Years as Mem
her If the Common Council and Was
Mayor for Six Years

Henry Williams, former mayor OF
the city and one of the Oldest, II not
the oldest, of the pioneer residents OF
Kenosha, died at his home on Prairie
avenue shortly after 9 O'Clock Friday
night. Death resulted from tubercu-
1osis of the throat, from which the de-
ceased had been a sufferer for the past
six months. Mr.. Williams had been
sinking for many weeks and for the
past six weeks he had been confined
to his bed. The members of the family
were about the bedside when the final
summons came.
The funeral was held Monday after
noon from the family residence onPra1-
RE avenue. 1t was largely attended,
many of the pioneers of the city being
present. Mayor James German and
members of the city council attended
the funeral in body and as mark OF
honor to the deceased the flags on the
city hall and school buildings were
placed at half mast during the day.
The service was in charge of the Rev.
E. T. Farri11, of the First Congrega-
tiona1 church. The remains were in
tered in the Williams lot at the city
cemetery.
The death of Henry Williams re-
moves from Kenosha one of the men
who have been most active in the de-
ve1opment of the city. Mr.. Williams
served the city for six years as head
executive and served as the repre-
sentative of the Third ward in the
Common Council for twelve consecu-
tive years. The deceased was an
Fng1ishman by birth and was born in
Lincolnshire on Dec. "a, 1924. He was
a son of Mr.. and Mrs. John Williams.
He came to this country with his
parents in 1886, and in June of 1887 the
party landed at Southport. It was
one of the earliest parties to come to
the little village, and it is said that
Mr.. Williams had resided in the county
longer than any other living man.
After a short stay in Southport the
Williams family went to Pleasant
Prairie, where they purchased the old
Williams homestead, which was still
owned by him at the time of his death.
Mr.. Williams came to Kenosha to
make his home in 1864, and ever since
that time he has resided at the home
stead of the family on Prairie avenue.
In 1874 he started in business as a
manufacturer of croquet sets, and his
little factory on Pomeroy street has
ever since been under his personal
supervision.
Mr.. Williams has been closely con-
nected with the political life of Keno
sha and Kenosha county. Hewas first
elected to the office of alderman in
1876, when he was named as the
representative of the old Third ward.
He was reelected to this Office for
eleven terms and at the close of his
service as an alderman he was elected
to the Office of mayor, and served in
this. capacity for six years.
In his official capacity he did much
for the development of Kenosha. He
was a conscientious mayor and always
had the respect of the entire commu-
nifty.
The deceased is survived by five
children, as follows: John E. Will
1iams, Mrs. H. P. Woodwork and
Mrs. H. L. Bu11amore, of Kenosha;
Mrs. William H. Carr, of Minneapolis,
and Henry S. Williams, of Chicago.