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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS AND
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY Volume II - Biographical
Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company, Publishers 1912

This biography was submitted by a researcher and are abstracted from the above named publication.. Errors could occur, so one should always verify the correctness by obtaining copies of vitals and performing all necessary research to document what is contained herein.


WILLIAMS, JOHN (deceased), who for many years was engaged in the Rolling Mill business in and around Springfield, Ill., was born in Wales, in 1862, and died in Springfield in 1896. He was a son of James and Catherine (Lewis) Williams, natives of Wales, the former born in 1831 and the latter in 1829. They came to America in 1851, locating in Springfield, where the father worked at his trade of iron worker until his death in 1878, the mother surviving until 1882. Children as follows were born to this couple: William, John, Eddie, Thomas, James, and Maggie, who died at the age of seven years.

John Williams was educated in the schools of Pittsburg, Pa., and Springfield, Ill., where his parents resided for a short time, and his first work was in the rolling mills of the latter city. At the age of twenty years he secured this employment and continued to work in this line until his death, when he left his widow a beautiful home, in which she and her children now reside. Mr. Williams was one of those who helped to sink the Jones and Adams mine.

In 1885 Mr. Williams was married, by the Rev. Hines, of the Episcopal Church, to Emma Cartwright, who was born in Johnston, Pa., in 1855, daughter of John Cartwright, a native of Wales, who was born December 25, 1830, and died October 16, 1872. Mrs. Williams' mother, Mary (Reece) Cartwright, was born in Wales in June, 1830, and died September 13, 1883. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright: Margaret, wife of Thomas H. Pritchard, a well-to-do coal miner of Springfield; William and Edward, of Springfield; Mary Ann, the wife of William Dunn, of Terre Haute, Ind.; Emma, who became Mrs. Williams; Eliza, the wife of Frank Ammond, of Alabama City, Ala.; David, who died when thirty-two years old; and Katie, the wife of John Newton, of Terre Haute, Ind.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams: Margaret, the wife of Martin Spence, a successful contractor of Springfield, born April 12, 1886; Mamie B., born May 20, 1889, employed at the Illinois Watch Factory; and Jennie B., born April 12, 1892, also working at the Illinois Watch Factory. Mr. Williams was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.


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