Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Albert E. Williams
This well known farmer and honored citizen of Washington township, has throughout his active business life been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Wayne county and has for over thirty years resided upon his present farm. He was born, however, in Rush county, Indiana, March 26, 1857, and is a son of Thomas and Olive (Elwell) Williams, both natives of Washington township, Wayne county. The father, who was born June 15, 1820, is a son of Joseph and Charity (Adams) Williams, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. In early life Joseph Williams came with his parents to Brookville, Franklin. county, Indiana, where his father died. The latter was a member of the Society of Friends. The son was married in Franklin county and continued to make his home there until after the birth of two of his children. About 1814 he came to Wayne county, where he entered land and improved a farm. He was one of the pioneer Methodist ministers of this section and was highly respected by all who knew him. After his children had all married and left the parental home, he sold his farm to a son and moved to Fairview, Rush county, where he served as a local preacher until called to the better world in 1856. He was a devoted Christian who labored earnestly for the betterment of his fellow men, and the world is certainly better for his having lived. His children were Wesley, a resident of Hancock county, Indiana; William, a Methodist minister. now deceased; Deborah, who first married a Mr. Pettigrew, and secondly a Mr. Hardin; Mary, wife of John Howard; Thomas, father of our subject; James and Joseph, both farmers, now deceased; Mrs. Rachel Hart; and Polly.
Thomas Williams grew to manhood upon a farm in Wayne county and remained with his parents until his marriage, when he settled in Rush county, where he improved a good farm of over four hundred acres and built thereon a good brick residence to replace his first home, which was a log structure. In 1864 he removed to Knightstown, where he engaged in the marble business for four years, and then located on the old Elwell homestead in Wayne county, where our subject now resides. After operating this place for ten years he removed to Milton, where he lived retired, though he still owned this farm and one in Rush county until his death, which occurred December 2, 1889, when he disposed of all his property by will. He was an ardent Democrat in politics and served as township trustee in Rush county. He was an active worker in the Methodist church, and was a social, genial gentleman who commanded the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His widow is still living and continues to make her home in Milton. To them were born seven children, namely: Samantha, who died at the age of nineteen years; Caroline, who died at the age of six; Olinda, widow of L. F. Hinchman, a farmer and stock dealer; Parnitha, wife of Dr. D. H. Miller, a druggist of Franklin, Indiana; Ellen, wife of J. B. Payne, a business man of the same place; Alice, wife of M. H. Moore, a grocer of Emporia, Kansas; and Albert E., our subject.
Albert E. Williams began his education in the schools of Rush county, and later attended the common schools of Knightstown and Wayne county, the seminary at Spiceland, Indiana, and the Northwestern University, at Irvington. He was thus well equipped for life's responsible duties and is today one of the most intelligent and well informed men of his community.
He grew to manhood upon his present farm and after his marriage, in 1878, commenced housekeeping there, his father having given him one hundred acres, to which he has since added eighty acres. He also owns another well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres. This is the original Elwell homestead. He has remodeled the brick residence and made many other improvements which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He has carried forward quite successfully the work inaugurated by his father, and is to-day one of the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of his community. In connection with general farming he is engaged in stockraising, making a specialty of Short-horn and Durham cattle. Although an ardent Democrat in politics he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. His honorable, upright life has gained for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact, and he has been called upon to act as guardian for others and as executor of his father's will.
In 1878 Mr. Williams married Miss Lizzie E. Beeson, who was born in Washington township May 25, 1858, a daughter of B. F. and Catherine (Howard) Beeson, who are represented elsewhere in this work. Her paternal grandfather, Benjamin Beeson, was a native of North Carolina and a son of Benjamin Beeson, whose father, Isaac Beeson, was of the fifth generation removed from Edward Beeson, a native of Lancastershire, England, who came to America with one of William Penn's colonies in 1682 and first settled in Pennsylvania. A number of years later he moved to a Quaker settlement in Virginia, and from there went to Brandywine, near Wilmington, Delaware. His descendant, Isaac Beeson, previously mentioned, removed from there to North Carolina, and from him springs the Indiana branch of the family. Three brothers came to this state: Isaac, in 1812, located near Richmond; Benjamin, in 1814, settled where Mrs. Williams' father now lives; and Thomas, in 1818, lived where his son, Elwood Beeson, now makes his home.
B. F. Beeson, Mrs. Williams' father, is one of the most prominent and highly respected farmers of Wayne county, and the poor and needy are never turned from his door empty-handed. He married Catherine Howard, a lady of more than ordinary attainments, who is beloved by all who know her. She was born in Wayne county January 22, 1827, and is a daughter of John and Sarah (Calaway) Howard, who came here from North Carolina about 1814, and entered land and improved the farm now occupied by Elijah Hurst. There all their children were born. Finally selling that place they moved to Madison county, Indiana, but later returned to Wayne county and bought the farm where the Valley Grove church now stands. After his children were all grown Mr. Howard gave that place to a son and built for himself a residence in the same neighborhood, where he spent his last days. He was thrice married and by the last wife had one son, Charles. There were two sons by the first union, - Samuel and Joseph, - and by the second there were twelve, including the following: Mary E., Sarah, Mrs. Dwiggins, Lydia, Rachel, Cynthia, Catherine, John A., Neill and Margaret. Mrs. Williams is the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being: William, who died in 1873, aged twenty-two years; Oliver H., a farmer of Wayne county; Joseph, who died in 1873, aged eighteen years; Sanfed, who died the same year, aged thirteen years; Elmer, a resident of Cambridge City; Ira J., who died in infancy; May, wife of J. Coyne; and Minnie, wife of F. Flora. The sons and mother, who passed away April 14, 1873, died within four months, of spinal meningitis. For his second wife Mr. Beeson married Miss Kate Roadcap, in 1879. She was born in Virginia August 5, 1844, and came to Indiana with her parents, Henry and Lydia Roadcap, now residents of Henry county. Our subject and his wife have an interesting family of four children: Frank R., born August 23, 1879; Elsie, September 30, 1884; Harry B., July 31, 1886; and Carl P., January 16, 1890.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899