The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-05-25

liams, wife of the late A. L. Williams,
died Friday afternoon, May IS. at her
home on Oliver street. For the last six
years she had been an invalid and had
been confined to her room for the last
four years of this time. Although
gradually failing during this time she
did not seem to be in any immediate
danger and in consequence of her reason
ably good state OF health her death
came as a sudden shock to those who
were most intimately acquainted with
her. A few days before her death she
contracted cold which settled on her
lungs. She soon experienced change
for the worse. The body which had
grown Trailer and Trailer, almost i'm
perceptibly, was not able to resist the
encroachment of the new trouble, until
death released her patient spirit.
Harriet Newell Nation was born at
Champion, Jefferson county, New York,
February 8, 1922. Her father was
Gershon Nation, the organizer of the
present Congregational church in this
city. In 1888 the family, with the ex-
ception of Miss Harriet, moved to Mich
igan, settling at Vernon in this county,
where Mr.. Nation took up the work of
pioneer minister of the Presbyterian
faith. Miss Harriet, then but sixteen
years of age, remained in New York,
where she taught school for two years
before joining her parents in this state.
Here she also taught school for one year
before her marriage to Mr.. Alfred L.
Williams, one of the founders of Owos-
so, which took place October %, 1S41.
Mr.. Williams at once brought her to
his home in this city where, with the
exception of few months temporary
residence in Pontiac, she resided the re-
mainder Of her life.
To.tell the life story of Mrs. Williams
from the time when she became the
gracious hostess of the Williams home,
and the mother of the two children of
her husband by his former wife. A. Lee,
aged at that time but five years and his
sister Sarah, of two years,-and more
than that, more than also mother to
her own eight children, because she
seemed mother to so many more who
learned to know her and to love her
to tell this would be to tell the whole
story Of Owosso and its growth from
those early times. Time does not per-
NIT this today. Yet the imagination
can supply much from such glimpses as
these-the deer running through the
very dooryards, and the Indians, who
knew the Williams home as a refuge
open to them at any time. Many a
time did Mrs. Williams go in the morn
ing to enter the kitchen, to find on open
ng the door a number of Indians lying
On the floor, still asleep. They recog-
n'zed the kindly, motherly spirit which
ruled that home, the door of which they
never found locked, and they did not
hesitate to avail themselves of it's friend
" shelter when the night was cold and
stormy and they would suffer without.
They called her mother, and no testi-
nony could show her kindness of heart
ind beautiful character more clearly.
In church and social life it was but
natural that Mrs. Williams should be
looked tcron every hand as leader.
Well educated for those days, and the
)ossessor of a culture which not educa-
ion alone can impart, her presence was
In uplifting influence in the communi-
~, and especially in every gathering or
society in which her sympathy was en-
isted-and her sympathy went out to
lssist in every effort for the betterment
If all that needed help in the little
frontier town of those days. And so it
vas all through her life. Everywhere
t was the same sweet, winning infu-
nee that frightened things wherever
he went. Always she did what she
ould to help, whether in church,
lome where sorrow or trouble had come
r in her own home where more than
anywhere else she was the mother more
han it is given to the lot of many
nothers to be such. Still kindly-she
eemed to have made it fast rule of
er life never to say an unkind word of
nyone-she passed through, the years
f Owosso's early history and held her
lace as the years of industrial activity
awned and the little village had be.
ONE the little city. Here she reared
Ter family and here she laid her hus-
and away when he proceeded her to
he2other country.
Eight children were born to her and
I'VE Of these are living today to hold
Ter memory one of the most precious
nd sacred Of their heritages. They
re- Clara MRS. L. E. Phelps) of Ian
ing Alfred G.. Williams, of Newark,
Y. j.. May MRS. E. o. Dewey, Miss
Henrietta, and Annie MRS. DR.. G. Nc
of this city. Three children
led, Emma (wife of Mr.. VIM. M. Kill
atrick and mother of w. d. Kill
'atrick, of Washington, d. c., Miss
larry Fitzpatrick, of Seward, Alaska,