The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-23

Hon. Jesse C. Williams na..a,
ninety-eighth milestone wadS u %.
Aug. ~. being the Oldest residesaay,
this vicinity. Mr.. Williams i Is Of
health considering his age ana ~ good
I'll the warm weather was to " W ua'
in his favorite pew AT The St ne found
aau. each sunday. He has mads lay bia
dally trip to the city, being abon, s as
nlocks. until quite recently, when n y
mas only walked one way. A ne
Mr.. Williams has long been ,a
and ravoraoly known in this nav e!
the state; for many years csrr ra' o.
business as a general mercbnn. oa
at one time he represented his d;,. aaa
in the state senate. He was hns ueI
Richmond, Madison county Ken,ra,
Aug. 22, 1919, his parents bainA ~
ard and Catherine (Holderl Wi,,, nca
the father being q native of wv.
and the mothers birthplace bein pug y
Kentucky. 'eins
Both the paternal and
grandfathers of Afr. Williams wero
diers OF the Revolutionary war. s~
the great-grandfather who ia knn, as0
history as Col Richard GalloWsv
virginia, who was prominent in III
cary development and settlement :,
Kentucky and who was a soldier in ~
frontier and Indian war under Gena,.s
Washington.
hr. Williams acquired limited a.,
cation in the district schools of Nv W.
native state, and the next wear .t..s
putting aside his text books, he ia.
home and went south, where he W..
engaged on the construction Of o,a =
the nrst railroads in that part Of ~
country. the line extending betusa.
Atlanta and Chattanooga, II ~.
over this road that Gen. Joe Jobnsn
made his celebrated retreat duriny ~
period OF the civil war.
Returning to KENTUCKY Mr. ",
liams for several years engaged
school teaching. He afterwards tim
ed ms attention to merchandising h
Mount Vernon, KY. and in 1857 moved
10 Carthage. where he opened geues
al store. which be conducted conn
uously until about twenty.four YEAR
ago. He was first located on the soD.
side OF the public square, afteryaI,
moving 10 the west side, and ahs.
wards erecting a business block !.
the north side, which he still owns
On March 8, 1850, he was maris
TO Miss Mary Collier OF Rockcasts
Ny, whose father was soldier Il
the war OF 1912 Mr.. and Mrs WI
liams celebrated their golden annive,
sary in 1901, having with them seven
children on this occasion, there bar
ing been born TO them seven children
two born in Kentucky and five in lr
nois, three OF whom are now liyjns.
. the mother having died in 1910. The
children living are the oldest son O
". Williams. OF Fort Stockton, Texas.
Mrs. A. L. Hart, of Ontario. California
and Miss Susan, who IS at home witt
/, her father.
Mr. Williams built his present hons
IN 1866. and has resided there since
II was a farm but the land has since
been divided and much Of It sold Oh
in town lots
He is a member of the Masonic OF.
der. and has been an elder Of the
church. and Sunday school superinten.
dent, always taking most active part
IN the church work. and his entire life
proves the value of honesty as factor
ones fellowmen- He was elected state
senator for Hancock and Adam coun.
ties in 1870, serving for one term,
when he refused TO again make the
campaign for the office He has acted
for several terms as alderman Of Car.
thage, and has been president Of the
council.
His interest in community affairs
has been OF q helpful character and
in the evening Of life. he receives tns
veneration and respect which are ae
corded in recognition OF ability, sue
cess and honorable political career, DE-
votion TO those rules o. conduct, which
are not only in conformity with hisn
standard OF ethics. but also wild inc
high and lofty principles OF right Nv
ing.