Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-02-06
THE LATE MRS. l.. Y. WILLIAMS

MIS-. l.. V. W llllauS was AT iHe
/ time of her death, perhaps the old
est 'inhabitant of Pullman. James
Monroe was president of the United
States on January is, 1925, when
deceased, whose death occurred
on January 16, was born. She ha]
lived during 23 presidential admin
istrations, and only four presidents
has previously served. Jefferson,
John Adams, and James Madison
were still alive, so that Washington
was the only president who had died.
She was the daughter of John and
come from England in about 1913 to
the English settlement at Albion,
Edwards county, Illinois. The set
tlement at Albion was on terms of
intimate friendship with Robert
Owens famous socialistic community
at New Harmony, Indiana, about 20
miles away. The New Harmony set
tlement was made in 1925, the very
year of Mrs. Williams birth. There
were many distinguished and highly
educated people from Europe in both
settlements, although those at Al
bion had no socialistic leanings. The
presence of many educated people
made the local opportunities for ed
ucation much better than in pioneer
settlements at that day. In 1885,
Miss Brissenden was married to
Jesse B, Williams, a merchant of
GRANVILLE, ILL.,, a town on the Wabash
river about half way between AL
bion and New Harmony. 1t was at
this point that much of the flat boat
traffic down the river originated,
and it was an important point for
steamboats, from the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi in the halcyon days of steam
boating, before the advent of rail
ways. To. Mr.. and Mrs. Williams
were born six children, Hattie E.
tMrs. Bryan), Margaret, Bessie, Ell
ma b. and Jesse B. Mrs, Williams
survived her husband and all of her
children except Mrs. Bryan and
Jesse b. Williams of North Carolina.
Her husband died in 1867, leaving
to her care the education of the six
little children. Her home continued
in GRANVILLE, Illinois, until 1886, in
which year she removed with her
two daughters, Margaret and Bessie,
to VinCennes, Indiana, and became a
member Of the home of President
and Mrs. E. A. Bryan. Mr.. Bryan
was at that time president of the
Vincennes University. She contin-
ued to live with her daughter until
her death, period of more than 27
years. She removed with her chill
dren to Pullman, Wash, in 1898, at
which time President Bryan entered
upon his duties as president of the
State College of Washington. Her
daughter, Margaret, died in Pullman
in 1894 and Bessie in 1906.
About year ago Grandma Will
Jams fell and broke her hip, since
which time she had been unable to
walk and required the constant serv-
ices of a nurse. Her seth birthday
was celebrated happily on the 18th,
surrounded by friends and floral
gifts and remembrances from her
old home. She was vot very we'll on
the 10th, but not until evening were
there any alarming symptoms. AT
! O'Clock she passed gently away
to the Great Beyond as quietly and
beautifully as the beautiful life she
had lived. The many friends OF
Grandma Williams in Pullman were
deeply attached to her. They ad-
mired her gentle grace, her beauti-
full optimism. her youthful interest
in everything and everybody, and her
kindly and lovable spirit. Through
years of sore trial and heavy respon-
sl0lllties, she cheerfully met life's
uutles, making all the world as we'll
as her own home, brighter and better
for her having lived and labored in
it. When the day came on which the
mortal remains must be borne away
to the final resting place beside her
two daughters, the casket was load
ed with beautiful flowers from near
and far, arranged by loving hands
and loving friends gathered about
TO take last look at the gentle
peaceful face and perform the last
sad rites. 1t might we'll be said of
her, Blessed are the dead that die
in the Lord