Lewis Henry Williams family papers

Biographical sketch: Farm family of 2 parents, Lewis Henry & Mary Jones Williams, and 10 children; of Jackson Township (Lyon County), Emporia, Kan.

Abstract: The Williams family papers collection consists of photocopies & originals of diaries, 1874-1877 & 1887-1889, kept by brother & sister Henry Buchanan & Ella Williams and of family tax forms & receipts, all from the last quarter of the 19th century. Also in the collection are family group sheets recording genealogical information on the Lewis Henry Williams family and that of his wife, Mary Jones Williams. The diary tells of the family moving from Williamsburg, Iowa, to farmland 8 miles east of Emporia, Kan., & settling in the area, life, and activities in 19th-century Emporia & Lyon County, Kan. Henry's diary mentions the advent of mail delivery; the death of his grandfather Henry Lewis Williams in 1876; storms; and activities of the Welsh community. Ella's diary discusses church & social events; Henry Buchanan Williams's marriage in 1887; friends; trips to visit family in Osage City, Kan.; visits from family members; and her high school graduation & normal institute attendance. The genealogical information extends back to the 18th century; both the Williams and the Jones families came from Wales to the United States.

Language note: Text is in English.

Biog. Sketch (Full):

Note: Information in this sketch is from several sources that do not always agree. The genealogical information submitted with the collection is presumed the more accurate, but differing data appears in {braces} and is italicized.

Lewis Henry Williams was born on 11 March 1823 {in 1822} in Machynlleth {Llangyndeyrn}, Wales, United Kingdom. His father was Henry Lewis Williams (1793 – 1876); his mother's name is unknown, but her first name may have been Elln. Lewis was the youngest of five children; William H., David H., Ann (1834 – 1904), and Mary were his siblings. He married Mary Jones (1831 – 1911) {1826 – 1911} on 8 March 1854 in Deerfield, New York, and they had eight children: John L. (1855 – 1929), Henry Buchanan (1856 – 1935), Mary (1858 – 1862), Margaret (1860 – 1865) {1860 – 1863}, David Lewis (1862 – 1901), Annie (1865 – 1887) {Anna (1869 – 1887)}, Jennie (1869 – 1959) {1870 – 1959}, and Ella (1872 – 1902) {1873 – 1902}. He also had two sons, Lewis (1847 – ?) and David (1849 – ?) from a previous marriage. The family moved from Williamsburg, Iowa, to a farm in Jackson Township, Lyon County, Kansas, eight miles east of Emporia, in 1874; later they had a house in Emporia as well as the farm. Lewis Henry Williams died 6 January 1901 in Emporia, Kansas, and is buried in Maplewood Cemetery there with his wife and three daughters.

Mary Jones was born in 1831 {in 1826} in Wales, United Kingdom. She had a brother David ("the Sodbuster") and perhaps another brother, John. She married Lewis Henry Williams (1823 – 1901) {1822 – 1901} on 8 March 1854 in Deerfield, New York, and they had eight children: John L. (1855 – 1929), Henry Buchanan (1856 – 1935), Mary (1858 – 1862), Margaret (1860 – 1865) {1860 – 1863}, David Lewis (1862 – 1901), Annie (1865 – 1887) {Anna (1869 – 1887)}, Jennie (1869 – 1959) {1870 – 1959}, and Ella (1872 – 1902) {1873 – 1902} and two stepsons, Lewis (1847 – ?) and David (1849 – ?). The family moved from Williamsburg, Iowa, to Jackson Township, Lyon County, Kansas, eight miles east of Emporia, in 1874; later they had a house in Emporia as well as the farm. Mary Jones Williams died 10 March 1911 in Emporia and is buried with her husband and three daughters there.

Henry Buchanan Williams was born 11 September 1856 in Williamsburg, Iowa, to Lewis Henry (1823 – 1901) {1822 – 1901} and Mary Jones Williams (1831 – 1911) {1826 – 1911}. He had nine siblings: John L. (1855 – 1929), Mary (1858 – 1862), Margaret (1860 – 1865) {1860 – 1863}, David Lewis (1862 – 1901), Annie (1865 – 1887) {Anna (1869 – 1887)}, Jennie (1869 – 1959) {1870 – 1959}, and Ella (1872 – 1902) {1873 – 1902} and half-brothers Lewis (1847 – ?) and David (1849 – ?). He moved with his family to Jackson Township, Lyon County, Kansas, eight miles east of Emporia, in 1874. In 1887 he married Sarah Elsie Rosenquist (1865 – 1932), and they had four children: John Rosenquist (1888 – 1975), Lewis Henry (1890 – 1890), Ruth (1892 – 1892), and Mary Rachel (1897 – 1982) Williams. They lived in or near Osage City, Kansas, at the beginning of their marriage, but eventually moved to a farm in the same township as his parents. He died 27 September 1935 in Davenport, Iowa, and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Neosho Rapids, Kansas.

Ella Williams was born 6 April 1872 {1873} in Williamsburg, Iowa, to Lewis Henry (1823 – 1901) {1822 – 1901} and Mary Jones Williams (1831 – 1911) {1826 – 1911}. She was the youngest of ten children: John L. (1855 – 1929), Henry Buchanan (1856 – 1935), Mary (1858 – 1862), Margaret (1860 – 1865) {1860 – 1863}, David Lewis (1862 – 1901), Annie (1865 – 1887) {Anna (1869 – 1887)}, and Jennie (1869 – 1959) {1870 – 1959} and half-brothers Lewis (1847 – ?) and David (1849 – ?). She moved with her family to Jackson Township, Lyon County, Kansas, eight miles east of Emporia, in 1874. She graduated from Emporia High School and later attended a teachers' institute there. She was a teacher. She lived with her parents her entire life and died in Emporia 30 April 1902 at the age of 29. She is buried with her parents and two sisters in Maplewood Cemetery, Emporia.

Contents: Genealogical records of the Lewis Henry Williams family (folders 1-2) -- Henry and Ella Williams diary (folders 3-4) -- Family tax forms and receipts, 1870-1884 (folders 5-6).

Associated materials: Photographs: Transferred to the Kansas Historical Society photograph collection.

Finding Aid Bibliography:

"All Results for Henry Buchanan Williams," Ancestry.com website: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?new=1&gsfn=Henry+Buchanan&gsln=Williams&gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&rank=1&gss=sfs62_&mswpn__ftp=Lyon+County%2C+Kansas%2C+USA&mswpn=1837&mswpn_PInfo=7-|0|1652393|0|2|3249|19|0|1837|0|0|&msbdy=1856 (viewed 25 Feb. 2014)

"Ella Williams," Find a Grave website: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=93532493&PIpi=63432603 (viewed 27 Feb. 2014)

"Henry B. Williams," Find a Grave website: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=WILL&GSfn=H&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=18&GScntry=4&GSsr=401&GRid=41051756& (viewed 25 Feb. 2014)

"Saved Ancestry Family Trees for Lewis Henry Williams," Ancestry.com website: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/PersonMatch.aspx?tid=45704161&pid=6978159176&src=m&pg=32772&pgpl=pid (viewed 18 Feb. 2014)

Cite as: Williams Family Papers, 1870-1987 (bulk 1874-1889), Ms. Collection 197, Kansas Historical Society.

Holder of originals: Kansas Historical Society (Topeka)