MR. JOHN LLOYD WILLIAMS. BANGOR, CAMBRIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
John Lloyd Williams, one of the oldest surviving pioneers of Columbia county, Wisconsin, resides in Cambria, and is retired from active pursuits. He has a handsome residence in the town and is an honored citizen.Our subject was born in Bryntrion, Llanllyfni, Carnarvonshire, Wales, in October, 1821, and was a son of Daniel and Ann (Davies) Williams. His mother died on the sea while coming to America in 1847.
The father completed the journey and lived in the town of Courtland until i860, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was a weaver by trade, following the occupation of his father, William Williams. Records of the Williams family have been preserved for five hundred or more years, and indicate that its members have generally been conspicuous for long life.
Another noteworthy fact is the large number of ministers of the Gospel and other professional men recorded. Among these is Rev. Michael Roberts, a leading divine of the C. M. Church in his day. The present representatives of the family of Daniel and Ann Williams in Cambria are as follows: John, Robert, and Daniel, all of whom have lived in Columbia county, Wisconsin, since 1847. Their average age is over eighty years, a record which probably cannot be duplicated in Columbia county.
John Lloyd Williams was engaged in the slate quarries from boyhood, where two or three thousand men were employed. He came to the United States in 1846, spending six weeks on the sea. From Milwaukee he drove to Columbia county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Courtland and Springvale townships for six hundred dollars. But seven or eight acres of this had been broken, and he resided on that farm for many years and thoroughly improved the place. He disposed of the farm about 1880 and removed to the village of Cambria, where he built a fine residence and he has since lived in practical retirement, finding his chief employment in the care of his grounds. His home is one of the most attractive in the village, and the house, with its surroundings and shade trees, and well kept lawn bespeak the taste and industry of the owner.
Our subject was married in 1853 to Eleanor Williams, a daughter of Richard P. and Jane (Roberts) Williams. Mrs. Eleanor Williams was born in the parish of Gyffin, Valley of Conway, September 26th, 1827. The homestead farm on which she was born was owned by the family of Mrs. Jane Roberts Williams, the last named lady being a daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Roberts.
Richard P. Williams came to America in 1848 and settled on a farm in the town of Springvale, which farm is now owned by his son, Henry R. Williams. R. P. Williams reached the age of eighty-one years and died March 4th, 1869. He followed farming throughout his life. His father, William Pritchard, lived and died in Wales on a farm called 'Coed Mawr."
Mrs. Jane Williams died fifteen years before her husband. Ten children, were born to them, of whom three died in Wales. The surviving children were as follows: Thomas; Eleanor (wife of our subject) ; Jane; William; Richard; Henry, now deceased; and David, now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. John Lloyd Williams are members of the C. M. church of Cambria, which church they assisted in organizing, and are highly esteemed in the community where they have spent half a century.