Nathan Williams was born in Pomfret, Windham county, Connecticut, in June, 1821. He commenced teaching district school at the age of seventeen, and continued teaching during the winter terms for six consecutive years, attending Brooklyn Academy at the fall terms. At the expiration of his last term as teacher, he engaged as clerk in the Masonville Manufacturing Company, where he remained two years, and then became a partner in the mercantile firm of Williams, Ely & Co. This firm continued business for five years when Mr. Williams purchased the entire interest of the concern, and carried on business in his own name until he came to Sterling, Whiteside county, in 1856. On his arrival in Sterling he again became a merchant, building a store for himself, and continuing in trade three years, when he retired and purchased a farm in Montmorency township, upon which he has since resided. The farm of Mr. Williams is situated upon sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, in the township of Montinorency, and comprises six hundred and forty acres. He has taken a great deal of pains to bring his farm under a good state of cultivation, and it is now one of the finest farms in the township. During his residence in Connecticut Mr. Williams was a school officer nearly all the time after he became of majority, either as a member of the Town Examining Board, or as Director, and for part of the time as both, and was also a Justice of the Peace for nine years. Since coming West he was School Trustee in Sterling for five years, and in Montmorency a School Director for twelve years. He has also been Assessor of Montmorency township for three years. At the fall election in 1871 he was elected a Representative to the General Assembly of the State, from the 11th District, composed of Whiteside and Carroll counties, and served the full term of two years: Mr. Williams was a Whig in politics until the organization of the Republican party, and has acted with the latter ever since.
Bent & Wilson 1877
Mr. Williams passed his boyhood's years in school and on his father's farm, where he was an assistant until he was 16 years old. At that age he engaged in teaching, and was occupied several seasons in that capacity. He attended an academy at Brooklyn, four miles from his home, which distance he walked night and morning. When he was 22 years old he became a clerk in the employ of the Masonville Manufacturing Company, and officiated three years in that capacity, and in that of bookkeeper in their interests. In 1846 he became interested in mercantile pursuits at Putnam, Conn., in which he was engaged nine years, and operated principally alone, with satisfactory results. He found that his health was becoming broken from the confinement and other causes, and he determined to try a change of climate. In 1856 he came to Sterling, where he again interested himself in his former pursuit, in a building which he erected for the purpose. After two years he was obliged from the same causes to sell his business. He then, in 1858, bought 160 acres of land on sections 19 and 20 in Montmorency Township, fixing his homestead on the latter. He has been fortunate in his agricultural projects and has extended his ownership until he is the Possessor of 880 acres of land in the same township. Nearly 6oo acres are under excellent tillage. His stock includes about 100 head of cattle, and between 40 and 50 horses. He is interested in raising fine breeds of the latter, and was the first to introduce Clydesdales into Whiteside County. He also fattens about a hundred head of hogs annually. In the early days of his political career, Mr. Williams was a Whig; and, on the adjustment of party elements and organization of the Republican party, he joined its ranks and has since Supported its is- sues. In his native State he was actively interested in local and general politics, and his executive abilities and public spirit brought him a long array of official honors, wholesomely mixed with official labor. He has served an aggregate of 20 years as Justice of the Peace in Connecticut and Whiteside County, and in the latter has been Township Assessor five years. He has also been warmly interested in school matters in both States. At the fall election of 1870 he was elected for the position of Representative from the 11th District, comprising Carroll and Whiteside Counties, and served through two regular and two special sessions, covering ten months during the two years of his term.
Mr. Williams was united in marriage in Thompson, Conn., July 23, 1845, to Catherine B. Thatcher. They became the parents of five children, of whom there are four survivors: Ada T., Thomas T., N. Percy and Abbott. Mrs. Williams was born Dec. 5, 1819, in Hartford, Susquehanna Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Mills) Thatcher. Her father was born in Massachusetts, and her mother was a native of Connecticut. The former was a manufacturer and spent most of his life in Connecticut, where he was married. He died March 28, 1845. His wife died June 19, 1825. Their children were Sarah M., Catherine B., Ellen and Anna F.
1885 Portrait and Biographical Whiteside Co
