MR. EDWARD E. WILLIAMS, REWEY, IOWA COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Edward E. Williams, deceased, the son of Edward W. and Margaret (Jones) Williams, was born at Llanllechid, North Wales, October 16th, 1839, and died April 2nd, 1904, on his farm in Mifflin township. Edward, the father of our subject, was born in Carnarvonshire, North Wales, June 15, 1801, and Margaret, the mother, was born in Angleseashire, North Wales, Aug. 1st, 1801. Father and Mother Williams were married in the little parish church of Llanllechid, in the latter part of the year 1838. They immigrated to the United States in the fall of 1846, and located in Mifflin township, Iowa county. Territory of Wisconsin, thus being one of the pioneer settlers of that section.Edward W. being of a thrifty disposition took to farming, as his vocation, upon landing in America. He homesteaded 160 acres of land and began to farm the same. He was also an ordained minister of the Methodist church and occupied the pulpit in the church two miles east of the village of Rewey. He also preached once a month at Dodgeville. He was a life member of the American Bible Society.
As a man among men, he lead an upright life, endowed by nature with more than average ability and strength of character. Besides the son, Edward E., one daughter, Mrs. Ann Roberts, of Chicago, Illinois, was born to his union with Margaret Jones.
In politics he was associated with the Republican party. He passed to the great beyond, April 3rd, 1851, and was interred in the old Peniel burying ground, and beside him rests all that is mortal of his beloved wife, Margaret, who left this earthly home on May 2nd, 1863.
The subject of this sketch came to the United States, with his parents, in 1846, and always remained on the old homestead until his death, with the exception of three years, which service he gave to his adopted country. Edward E. Williams enlisted as a private in Company E, Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry, on August 15th, 1862, and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, as a corporal, Sept. 20th, 1865. He served in the department of Kentucky, under Capt. J. H. Smith.
He was married to Jane E. Thomas, who still survives him, on April 13th, 1861. She was a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Jones) Thomas. The issue of this union was eleven children, namely: Edward W., of Rewey, Wisconsin, born March 9th, 1862; John T., of Chicago, Illinois, born July 9th, 1864; William E., of Mifflin township, born September 21st, 1866; Richard J., of La Fayette county, Wisconsin, born May 25th, 1869; Margaret Jane, wife of Rev. J. Rhys Evans, of Berkeley, California, born April 19, 1872; Daniel H., of San Francisco, California., born August. 24th, 1874; Robert N., of Mifflin township, born July 30th, 1877; Owens H. and Samuel H., deceased, twins; Elizabeth Ellen, the wife of Grant W. Thomas, of South Dakota, born May 9th, 1882; and Henry H., born July 7th, 1884. Edward E. was a member of the Carmel Methodist church and served as deacon of the same for a great many years.
He was a Republican in politics and was several times elected to serve on the town board.
His widow and the youngest son, Henry H., reside on and manage the old homestead.