The
James Williams Family of La Porte County, Indiana
Before &
After
Compiled
by Deanna Branson West
with Assistance from John Claussen
| The following is comprised of Family Trees, Death Certificates, Cemetery Records, Census Reports and various land claims. We show a very brief synopsis of the family before arriving in La Porte County and basically concentrated on those that remained in the area. When researching this family, one should keep in mind that Berrien Co., Michigan is just to the north of this county and St. Joseph Co., IN is to the east just a few miles from Galena and Kankakee twps in La Porte County, IN. |
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James Williams was
born 2 Jul 1810 in the "Poor Valley" in Washington
Co, Virginia north of Abingdon. He was the son of George Williams and
Nancy Newhouse. When only one year old, James' family crossed the
Appalachian Mountains across the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky, then
northward crossing the Ohio River into Franklin County, Indiana, and
eventually settled in Fayette County, Indiana. Mary's father John
Cooley born 1784 purchased land 15 Mar 1837 in La Porte Co, IN and died
there in January 1845, and her mother Martha (Snodgrass) Cooley (born
1785 VA) died in La Porte Co in December 1849 (per the 1850 Fed.
Morality
Schedule for La Porte County.) The Williams would
later establish themselves and some of the offspring would remain in
this county all of their lives. *Nancy Jane Williams, 27 Aug 1831 – and died 27 Aug 1913 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI - m. Thomas Winters Nancy
Jane was the eldest daughter of James Williams and Mary Cooley, born in
Kankakee Twp, La Porte, IN. She married Thomas Winters on 23 Dec 1849
in La Porte Co, Indiana. Thomas and Nancy moved to Branch Co, Michigan
by 1860, lived in Barry Co and Allegan Co, then finally in Grand
Rapids, Kent Co by 1900. Thomas Winters and Nancy's children:
Nancy is buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amanda M. Finley
1837 to 1912 - Both Buried Rolling Prairie Cemetery this
county. *Martha Ann Williams, Jul. 4, 1835, La Porte Co, IN – d. Aug 8, 1913, in Chicago Ill. Previously had m. Erasmus Nathaniel Shedd in La Porte Co., IN about 1858 About
1873, Martha and Erasmus moved to Chicago. Erasmus died in 1885, Martha
also died in Chicago. - "Chicago Tribune (IL) - August 11, 1913 Martha A. Shedd, wife of the late Erasmus Shedd, mother of Eugene Shedd, Mrs. Alma Wallace, and the late Emmett, Mary, Earl and Ernest Shedd and Mrs. Della Walsh, at residence of son-in-law, 4155 South Wabash-av. Funeral Monday, 10 a.m., from residence to Mount Greenwood." Children of Erasmus Shedd and Martha:
Martha is buried at Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *George Washington Williams, born La Porte Co., IN 1 Nov 1837 – and died North Liberty Twp, St. Joseph Co., IN 8 Sep 1911, He spent most of his youth in La Porte Co, Indiana. George served in the Civil War in Indiana's 21st Battery Light Artillery. Married Ann Auten 13 Feb 1868 in St. Joseph County, Indiana, where they raised two children: George Washington Williams and Amanda's children:
George is buried at Eastlawn Cemetery in Liberty, St Joseph, IN ------------------------------------------------------------------ *Benjamin Franklin Williams, 15 Apr 1839 La Porte Co. and died same Co. 11 Mar 1895 He enlisted on 9 Sept 1862 as a
private in the Indiana 21st Light Artillery Battery, along with his
older brother George. Ben mustered out on 26 Jun 1865 at Indianapolis,
although his health never fully recovered from injuries sustained in
the Civil War. Ben
Williams was named after his uncle, Benjamin Franklin Newhouse (son of
Samuel Newhouse), who lived in Galena Twp near James Williams and Mary
Cooley when Ben was born in 1839 Samuel's eldest son, John G Newhouse,
was recorded as one of the first La Porte County coroners in 1842. Ben and Esther's 8 Children:
Orpha Elma Williams, Jun 1869 – 1 Jul1946, m. Wm McDuffie Josephus Williams Sr, 1872 – 1901, m. Bertha Ziegler Myra Ethel Williams, 1875 – 1967, m. Lewis P Lake Bertha Bell Williams, 1878 – 1958, m. Charles Bull Monroe Williams, 1881 – 1969, m. Bertha Coburn Benson Williams, 1884 – 1951, m. Ethel Williams Bessie Hazel Williams, 1889 – 1981, m. Cloid Crawford John Wesley Williams, 1891 – 1986, m. Jennie Anderson, m. Gertrude Edmondson m. Edna Henderson ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Elizabeth E Williams, 18 Jul 1840 – died 21 Feb 1930 Middleville, Barry County. MI She married David Marcus Webb on 11 Aug 1862 in La Porte Co, Indiana. David and Elizabeth's children: Bert Webb, 1867 – 1938, m. Margaret A Bergh Norman C Webb, 1869 – aft 1940, m. Zua May McDowell William Earl Webb, 1873 – 1955, m. Bessie Luella George Estella Webb, 1874 – 1945, m. Jacob Vandenberg Elizabeth E Williams: son Norman Charles Webb, died in 1949 (you have his other info already) Elizabeth Williams Webb is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Barry, MI.
*Sarah H Williams, 1843 – 1894, m. David Shay Sarah married David Loren Shay in 1869 in Barry County, Michigan. Sarah died in Wayland, MI. Children of David L Shay and Sarah:
No information about where Sarah Williams Shay is buried. .-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Charles Wesley Williams, per his death certificate born 10 June 1846 La Porte Co., IN and die 20 Apr 1918 Osceola Co., MI. He served Co. E, 30 MI Inf. GAR - m. Sophia Berry (1856-1928) Children of Charles and Sophia Berry:
Charles is buried in Rose Lake Township Cemetery; LeRoy, Osceola, MI.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *James Leslie Williams Jr, 8 June 1849 in La Porte Co., IN and died 19 Apr 1918 Barry Co., MI married Mary Matilda Brooks in April 1869 in Barry County, Michigan. James and Mary had six children:
James is buried at Coman Cemetery in Barry County, MI
*Elmina (Mina) E Williams, May 1854 to 2 Oct 1937, born in Galena Twp, La Porte County, Indiana. On 13 Aug 1873, Mina married Eldridge G Burtt in Middleville, Barry Co, Michigan. Moved to Montana and then Portland ,Multnomah County.Oregon . Elmina
(Mina) E William: Mina and Eldridge had one son: Dr Charles W
Burtt, 1874-1969, m. Bessie Mae Andrus, m. Florence May
Morton, m. Ethel V Edick Mina is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Portland, Oregon Added Notes on this family: |
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