JOSEPH C. WILLIAMS. GRANVILLE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The community was saddened Friday, May 26th, by the death of Joseph C. Williams which occurred at his home, 3 Quaker Street. Although he had been in failing health for several years he was active to within a few hours of death, and his passing came as a great shock to his friends.Joseph Williams was born May 1st, 1885, at Cae Clyd, Blaenau Festiniog, Wales, the fourth in a family of eleven children born to William and Margaret Williams.
He came to the United States in 1902, and settled in Fair Haven, Vermont. In 1904 he moved to Granville which has been his home since that time.
In December 1905, he married Margaret Roberts, daughter of the late David T. and Mary Roberts. Four children were born to them, Thelma, now Mrs. Paul Pelton; Lorriane, now Mrs. Edward K. Harrington; Josephine, now Mrs. Neal L. Hulett, all of Granville; and Judson C. of pearl River, New York. His widow and four children survive, as well as six grandchildren; two brothers, Evan of Troy and David of Festiniog, Wales, and two sisters, Margaret and Gladys of Festiniog.
Mr. Williams was connected with the slate industry from the time he came to this country, first as a worker in the quarries, and later as an operator. He was active in musical circles, and sang with many Welsh Male Choirs, the once well known 'Jolly Four' quartet, and with the Baptist Church choir for 25 years. He also taught the men's class of the Granville Baptist church for many years.
A life long Republican he served the New York State Assembly as commitee clerk, doorkeeper, principal doorkeeper and was elected Sergeant at Arms in 1946, an office he held outside of Westchester county, but Republicans and Democrats united in unanimously electing Mr. Williams because of his personal popularity with the members and the efficiency with which he had served the Assembly in the past. He was a member of the Granville Baptist Church, the Republican committee from the Town of Granville and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Funeral services were held at the home on Monday, May29th, with the Rev. Maldwyn Davies of the Granville Presbyterian church and the Rev. Lewis J. Brehaut of the United Baptist church, Lewiston, Maine, officiating. Bearers were Richard T. Pritchard, William H. Hughes, Earl Wood, William T. Barnard, Delbert Cline and R. Newton Williams. Burial was in the Mettowee Cemetery.
Many beautiful flowers and messages of sympathy were a token of the high esteem in which his friends held Joe Williams. Friends and relatives attending the services included Mr. and Mrs Henry Blossom, Mrs. Clarence Blossom, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fasoli, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lewis of Hudson Falls; Mr. and Mrs. John Westcott and Mrs. Raymond Barnes of Glens Falls; Mrs. Charles Lord and Mrs. Griffith Roberts of Plattsburg; Mrs. Prudence Morgan of Schenectady; Evan Williams of Troy; Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Pritchard of Hartford; Speaker Oswald T. Heck of Schenectady; Senator and Mrs. Henry Neddo and Mar Neddo, and former Assemblyman Herbert Bartholomew of Whitehall; Assemblyman William Reed of Fort Edward; Mrs. Kate Pritchard, the Misses Gwen and Gladys Hughes and Burt Hughes of Fair Haven, Vermont; David R. Hughes and son Ronnie of Detroit, Michigan.
Mr. Williams had a host of friends not only in his home town but all over the state, to whom he was unfailingly kind and helpful. His loss will be keenly felt far beyond the family cirlce.