Biography - Aaron Williams
Aaron C. WILLIAMS, music teacher and farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Orange, Essex Co., N. J., August 13, 1830, to Ebenezer and Abigail (CRANE) WILLIAMS. This family is of Welsh descent, and emigrated to America early in the sixteenth century. Matthew WILLIAMS, the first, was born in 1651; supposed to have been born at Branford, Conn.; died in 1732. His wife, Ruth, died July 27, 1724, aged sixty-seven years. Matthew, the second, was born in Newark, N. J., in 1694, and died in 1772. His wife was Abby BROWN, daughter of Thomas BROWN. Isaac WILLIAMS was the oldest son of their six children, born November 6, 1722, and was the paternal great-grandfather of our subject. His wife was Eunice PIERSON; they had eight children; Aaron was the fifth child; he was born July 5, 1759; married Mary DODD, by whom he had five children, three of whom lived to be over eighty years of age. Ebenezer, the father of our subject, was the second son, born January 7, 1792. He was a carpenter by occupation, and served his apprenticeship in the city of New York. He died February 14, 1874. Two brothers and one sister of his were born, and lived to a good old age, and eventually died in the same house. His wife, Abigail B. CRANE, was born in 1795, and is still living. She is the mother of nine children, only four of whom are now living, and of whom Aaron, the subject of this sketch, is next to the youngest child living. His early childhood was employed in attending the public schools of his native county, and in working with his father at his trade. At the age of eighteen he commenced the study of music, and soon after began to teach the same in the city of New York, where he remained until ill health compelled him to give up that occupation. In 1854, he turned his face toward the setting sun, and located in Jacksonville, Ill., where he again began to teach music, at which occupation he continued until 1871, in many of the principal cities of the East and West, Viz., New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Quincy, Springfield and Jacksonville. In the spring of 1871, he went to Montgomery, Ill., where he purchased 160 acres of land, and in connection with the duties of his profession, he engaged in farming. He has now in his possession a farm consisting of 233 acres of choice farm land, located about two miles east of Hillsboro. In the spring of 1882, he erected a large and commodious farm residence, which is an honor to him as an architect, and is spoken of as one of the finest farmhouses in the county. He was married in Hillsboro, November 25, 1864, to Miss Jane Elizabeth BROWN, a native of Montgomery County, born January 8, 1837. They have four children living, viz., Edward E., Margaret A., Mary G., Alfred A. and Elizabeth Jeanette, who died in infancy. Mrs. WILLIAMS was a daughter of Maj. William and Elizabeth (CRAIG) BROWN, natives of North Carolina, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. WILLIAMS is identified with the Republican party. He is one of those men who always take part in all progressive movements favoring the improvement of the county, and especially in the advancement of religious and educational privileges, and is a warm advocate of the cause of temperance.
Extracted 22 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 297-298.
