Joseph Rufus Williams

Joseph Rufus Williams (J.R.), farmer, P.O. Ullin, is a native of Murray County, GA., and was born there May 26, 1856.   He is the son of William & Sarah Ann (Scott) Williams.  His education was received at the schools of his native state.  At the age of eighteen, he left home and started out in life for himself.  Making his way to Illinois, he came to Anna.  Remaining there only a short time, he came next to Pulaski County, where he worked on different farms in this precinct.  In 1878, he commenced to farm on a rented place, and in 1882 he purchased his present location.  It is a farm of ninety-six acres, located in Section 25, Town 14, Range 1 West.  He has about thirty-five acres in cultivation, and three in orchard.  Mr. Williams was married January 2, 1881, to Mary Alice Whirlow, a daughter of Alexander Whirlow, a native of North Carolina.  This lady is the mother of Birdie born Dec. 2, 1882 who married Calvin Powles.  He is a member of the New Hope Methodist Episcopal Church.  In politics, he generally votes the democratic ticket.

Donated by Leslie Riney:  Joseph Rufus Williams is my great-grandfather.  After this excerpt was published, my great-grandfather J.R. and Mary had another daughter named Lizzie, born in 1887.  The family has no info about this daughter and she was only recently discovered on this site in the birth records.  There is also another daughter named Ethel that was born in 1894.  Sometime during that timeframe, Mary must have passed away and J.R. married Josephine Ellen (Black) Williams.  We are not sure if Ethel belongs to Mary or Josie due to census records of 1900 showing that Josie and J.R. were married 6 years.  J.R. and Mary had two other children, Osmer Williams and Nellie (Williams) Casper who married Otto Casper.  J.R. and Josie had 2 children during their marriage, Susie Mary (Williams) Seals (b. July 13, 1905-d.June 11, 1994 in Fresno, CA.) and John Rufus Williams (my grandfather, b. November 26, 1902-d. September 09, 1982). 

Aunt Susie (m. Ralph Seals) and Grandpa John (m. Iva Mae Seals) married brothers and sisters of the Seals family, so all their children and down the bloodline are all double cousins!




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