WILLIAMS, JOHN, was born Sept. 11, 1808, in Bath county, Kentucky. His ancestors came from Wales and settled in Greenbrier county, Virginia. James Williams was born in that county and married Hannah Moppin, who was born in 1776, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish parents, who were Presbyterians. James Williams moved to Bath county, Kentucky, and after partly raising his family, moved to that part of Sangamon which is now Menard county, Illinois, arriving in 1823. James Williams and wife lived and died in Menard county. Their son, John, whose name heads this sketch, attended school in a log school house during the winter, and in the summer labored on his father's farm until 1822, when he obtained a situation in a store in Owensville, Kentucky. At the end of two years he came with some of his father's former neighbors to Illinois, and after spending two weeks with his parents he came to Springfield, Oct. 11, 1824, and entered into an agreement to clerk for one year in the store of Major Elijah Iles for ten dollars per month. At the end of the year Mr. Iles gave him $150, being thirty more than the contract called for. His salary was raised to $200 and board, which was continued without change for five years. At the end of that time his savings amounted to three hundred dollars. Mr. Iles, wishing to retire from business, offered to sell his stock to Mr. Williams, and give him one year's time without interest. Mr. Williams preferred dividing it into four equal payments. Having previously visited St. Louis, on business for Mr. Iles, he became acquainted with the wholesale merchants there, which he afterwards found to be quite advantageous. That, with his three hundred dollars, enabled him to keep up his stock. By honorable dealing he retained all the former patrons of Mr. Iles, and met every payment promptly.

John Williams was married March 31, 1840, in Springfield, to Lydia Porter, who was born August 28, 1821, in Lima, Livingston county, New York. The wife of Major Iles was her half sister. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had six children in Springfield, all now living, namely--

LOUISA ILES, ALBERT PORTER, JOHN EDWARD, JULIA JAYNE, GEORGE and HENRY CARTER.

LOUISA I., born Dec. 22, 1840, was married in her native city, in 1859, to George N. Black, who was born March 15, 1833, in Lee, Berkshire county, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Black have three children, and reside in Springfield, Illinois.

George N. Black came to Springfield in October, 1850, and engaged to clerk for Colonel John Williams at fifteen dollars per month, and board himself. In 1856 he was admitted as a partner in the firm of John Williams & Co., dry goods merchants, and has continued to the present time. In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Black has been one of the most persistent and efficient workers in originating and prosecuting enterprises calculated to advance the interests of Springfield. Among the enterprises in which he has taken an active part, was the organization of the Leland hotel company; the Pana, Springfield and Northwestern railroad company, of which he became a director and secretary. That became part of the S. & I. S. E., and is now part of the O. & M. railroad. He was one of the projectors of the G., C. & S. railroad, and was one-tenth owner of the same. He was one of the principal movers in the Springfield and Northwestern railroad, and in 1875 was appointed receiver of the same. He is now--November, 1876--in charge of the road. He is one of the principal stockholders of the First National Bank, and was cashier during the first year of its existence. He was one of the stockholders who organized the Springfield City railway company, March 3, 1866; was elected treasurer, and continues to hold that office to the present time. He was one of the original movers in the Springfield Watch company, organized Jan. 26, 1870, and was elected treasurer of the same, etc., etc.

JULIA JAYNE was married in her native city to Alfred Orendorff. See his name, in the Omissions.

Colonel John Williams was nominated as a candidate for congress in 1856, and supported by the combined influence of the remnant of the old Whig party, under Fillmore, and of the newly organized Republican party, under Fremont; but was defeated, as he expected to be, his object being to strengthen the state ticket, with Governor Bissell at its head. He was for six years treasurer of the Illinois State Agricultural Society. In 1857 he became treasurer of the Illinois Stock Importing company, for the introduction of blooded stock. At the outbreak of the rebellion, Colonel Williams was appointed, by Governor Yates, commissary general of Illinois, and discharged the duties of that trust for years. He was appointed, by President Lincoln, disbursing agent of the United States government during the building of the United States court house and postoffice at Springfield. About three hundred and twenty thousand dollars passed through his hands in connection with that trust. After the death of President Lincoln, Mr. Williams was appointed one of the escort. He at once proceeded to Washington and accompanied the remains to Springfield. He was one of the original members of the National Lincoln Monument Association, and is now a member of its executive committee. He has been identified with the building of all the railroads to Springfield, but more particularly with the Gilman, Clinton and Springfield, and the Springfield and Northwestern railroads, the latter of which was built mainly through his exertions. He is now president of the Barclay coal mining company, and also owns and operates a farm of over one thousand acres, near Indian Point, Menard county, Illinois.

He commenced private banking in connection with his store, by his customers depositing with him. The business grew gradually for several years. When the national banking law was enacted he united with others in organizing the First National Bank of Springfield, Dec. 12, 1863, and opened its doors for business May 1, 1864. He became president of the bank at its organization and continued in that office ten years. For more than fifty-two years he has been in the mercantile business in Springfield, and is now in his sixty-ninth year, still at the head of the mercantile firm of John Williams & Co. He has for many years been a member of the First Presbyterian church of Springfield, Illinois.