William Riley Williams1,2,3,4

ID# 20910, (1835 - 1909)
FatherJohn R. Williams5,2,6 (abt 1808 - )
MotherSarah Adams5,2,6 (abt 1811 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 4 Jun 1835, Franklin Co., Illinois7,8,9
Marriage: 7 Mar 1858, Carroll Co., Missouri, Elvira Street (about 1 Feb 1839 - 24 Nov 1875)10,11,12
Marriage: 13 Nov 1876, Pleasanton, Linn Co., Kansas, Amy Fairchild (Jan 1853 - )13,14,15
Death: 11 Jan 1909, Hatton, Washington16,17
Burial: Hatton Cemetery, Hatton, Adams Co., Washington18
ChartsDescendants of David Dutt/Toot

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     William Riley Williams was born on 4 Jun 1835 in Franklin Co., Illinois.7,8,9
     He was probably one of the three males under age 5 listed in the household of his father, John R. Williams, in the 1840 Federal Census of Franklin Co., Illinois.19 He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Franklin Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents, John R. Williams and Sarah Adams.20
     He moved to Missouri with his parents after 1850.6
     William married first Elvira Street, daughter of John M. Street and Mariah Brady, on 7 Mar 1858 in Carroll Co., Missouri, with Rev. James M. Goodson officating.10,11,12
     William and Elvira settled in Linn Co., Kansas, just across the Missouri state line, after their marriage. They moved there with his parents and other members of his family.6 They appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Valley Twp., Linn Co., Kansas, enumerated 6 Jul 1860, reporting real estate valued at $1,400 and personal estate of $360. Their son John was listed as living with them. His parents and their family were apparently living close by as they were listed next on the census record.3
     On 1 Sep 1860 William was granted a patent for an 80-acre parcel of land about seven miles south and east of Linn Valley, in Linn Co. This parcel was granted under a warrant he had acquired that had been originally issued to Christina Wright, widow of James Wright, a private in the Kentucky Militia in the War of 1812, under the 1855 "Scrip-Warrant" act. That act extended previous provisions for script or warrants redeemable for land for service in any war to a total of 160 acres, and offered them to surviving widows or if no widow to minor children of eligible veterans.21

Service in the Civil War --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     William registered for the draft for the Civil War, appearing on the register dated Sep - Dec 1863, while living in Blooming Grove, Linn Co., Kansas.22
     William joined Company G, 13th Regiment, of the Kansas State Militia as a private. He was sworn in on 10 Jan 1864 at Gardner, Kansas.23,24 The Kansas Militia was composed of part time soldiers, called out as needed and returning to their civilian pursuits. William was called out with his unit in Jun 1864 for six days, in July for another six days, and in August for eleven days. The major engagement of most Kansas Militia units, including William's, was during Oct 1864, to repel Major General Sterling Price's invasion of western Missouri. William and his unit were engaged in the battles at Byram's Ford on the Big Blue River, Westport, Mine Creek in Jackson Co., Missouri.25,26,27 The Regiment was disbanded 29 Oct 1864.28
     According to the account in a 1904 local history, for which he was presumably the source, William served as sergeant during a portion of his enlistment. The unit's muster rolls show him only as a private, so if he acted at higher rank it must have been on an informal basis. That account also says that after the war his unit was engaged in fighting the Jay Hawkers for six months. That seems difficult to square with the fact that the unit was disbanded six months before the end of the war, and that the Jayhawkers were known to be active in the early years of the war, not after it.6

Expanding His Farm in Kansas --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     William and Elvira appeared on the 1865 State Census of Valley Twp., Linn Co., Kansas, enumerated 7 Jul 1865, reporting real estate valued at $1,000. Their children John, Andrew and Mary were listed as living with them.29
     On 1 Aug 1865 William was granted a patent for another 80-acre parcel of land immediately east of the previous parcel. The grant was also under the 1855 act, with a warrant originally issued to Mary Fullen, widow of William Fullen, a private in the Virginia Militia in the War of 1812.30 On 1 Dec 1866 William was granted a patent for a third parcel containing 98.5 acres, about three miles north and east of his previous parcels and bordering the Kansas-Missouri state line. The grant was also under the 1855 act with a warrant originally issued to James L. Wilson, a private in the Ohio Militia in the War of 1812.31
     William and Elvira appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Valley Twp., Linn Co., Kansas, enumerated 22 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate of $1,800. Their children John, Andrew, Mary and Anna were listed as living with them, as were Mary J., Sarah, and John Sulivan, ages 15 to 8, and William Brinkley, age 4, who appear to have been nephews and nieces. His father and his remaining children appear to have been living nearby as they were listed as the fourth preceding household in the census record.32
     William and Elvira appeared on the 1875 State Census of Valley Twp., Linn Co., Kansas, reporting real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate of $398.23. Their children John, Andrew, Mary, Anna, Elia and James were listed as living with them. His father and his remaining children seem to have been living close by, as they were listed as the next household in the census record.33
     His wife died on 24 Nov 1875.34,35,36
     William married second Amy Fairchild, daughter of Rosewll Fairchild and Maria Winfield, on 13 Nov 1876 in Pleasanton, Linn Co., Kansas, with R. W. Blue, probate judge, officiating.13,14,15
     William and Amy appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Valley Twp., Linn Co., Kansas, enumerated 12 Jun 1880. Their children William and Emma were listed as living with them His children Mary, Anna, Elia and James were listed as living with him, and her daughter by her prior marriage, Stella.37
     He was a farmer, and engaged in buying and selling livestock for 10 years in Kansas.3,29,38,32,33,37,39,40

Moving to Washington Territory --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     William and Amy moved to Washington Territory in 1887 and located on a homestead there. His youngest son, James, and their two children William and Emma moved with them, and three of his older children, John, Andrew and Elia, also moved west but just when is unknown.6
     William had given late wife's father, John M. Street, a due bill dated 22 Nov 1875. After a payment of $25 on 23 Aug 1876 a balance of $175 remained. When his former father-in-law's estate was settled in 1888 the note was written off as "insolvent, worthless, uncollectable."41
     William and Amy appeared on the 1889 Territorial Census of Adams Co., Washington Territory. Their children William and Emma and his son James were listed as living with them.39
     On 19 Jun 1895 William was granted a patent for 160 acres about 12 miles north east of Connell, in Adams Co. The grant was made under the homestead act of 1862. Under that act homesteaders could claim up to 160 acres after providing proof of farming the land for five years.42
     On 22 Jun 1899 William was granted a patent for 160 acres about 2½ miles west of the previous parcel. The grant was made under the 1873 Timber Culture act, which offered up to 160 additional acres to homesteaders who agreed to grow at least 40 acres of timber on the land, with trees not more than 12 feet apart.43 He later bought an additional 320 acres, and rented a section of school land.6
     William and Amy appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Adams Co., Washington, enumerated 29 Jun 1900, reporting that they owned their farm, free of mortgage. Their son William was listed as living with them, as were Flossie Williams, age 8, a granddaughter, and Boone and William Norton, who were listed as boarders.40
     William left a will dated 6 Oct 1904 stating he was of Hatton, Adams Co., Washington, in which he left all his personal property to his son William. He left 160 acres of land to his wife Amy, who was also named executrix. He left $100 to each of his other heirs, to be paid by his widow.44
     William died on 11 Jan 1909, on a ranch seven miles east of Hatton, Washington, at age 73.16,17 He was buried in Hatton Cemetery, Hatton, Adams Co., Washington.18

Probating His Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     His will was proved on 1 Feb 1909.44 An inventory of the estate was filed with the court 27 Mar 1909. It listed as real estate only the same 160-acre parcel his will had left to his wife, so he had apparently disposed of the rest of his land. It was valued at $3,000, with a note that it was "under contract from the state of Washington in which contract there is still due about $1,400. Under personal estate four farm implements were listed, all described as "old." They were valued in total at $95. There were three nine-year-old mules at $125 and $150 each, and three horses 15 or 13 years old, valued at $50 and $75 each. The total valued was placed at $3,720.45
     The final report of the estate was filed on 13 Jul 1910. In it the executrix stated that no claims had been filed by creditors, all probate expenses had been paid, and she had made cash distributions to the other heirs as directed by the will. She had given $100 each to John, Andrew, Mary, Elia and Emma and $33.33 to each of the three children of his deceased daughter Anna Belle.46 After public notice had been made, the court ordered the property described in the inventory be distributed as directed by the will and the estate closed.47

Children:
     Children with Elvira Street:

  • John Richardson Williams48,49,50 (abt Mar 1859 - 20 Jan 1934)
  • Andrew Jackson Williams51,52,50 (abt 1861 - 30 Apr 1922)
  • Sarah M. Williams53 (15 Feb 1862 - 30 Mar 1862)
  • Mary Eva Williams51,54,55 (30 Jul 1864 - 18 Oct 1954)
  • Elizabeth A. Williams56,57 (1 Nov 1866 - 28 Apr 1868)
  • Anna Belle Williams52,58,54 (2 Mar 1867 - 31 Mar 1908)
  • Elia Florence Williams58,55,59 (20 Mar 1871 - 13 Aug 1952)
  • James R. Williams58,37,60 (12 Oct 1873 - 2 Apr 1893)

Children:
     Children with Amy Fairchild:

  • William Albert Williams37,40,6 (4 Oct 1877 - 17 May 1952)
  • Emma Marie Williams37,6,55 (abt 1879 - 29 Jun 1949)

Citations

  1. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908, shows name as William R. Williams.
  2. [S6421] Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, online, "Washington State Death Records," record for William Riley Williams.
  3. [S7192] Riley Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas.
  4. [S7010] William R. Williams and Elvira Steet, County Marriage Register, Rhea Co., Tennessee.
  5. [S7191] Jno. R. Williams household, 1850 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Illinois, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  6. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908.
  7. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908, shows date, county, and state.
  8. [S7191] Jno. R. Williams household, 1850 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Illinois, shows age 14 and state.
  9. [S7187] William R. Williams household, 1900 U.S. Census, Adams Co., Washington, shows month, year, age 64, and state.
  10. [S7010] William R. Williams and Elvira Steet, County Marriage Register, Rhea Co., Tennessee, shows date, county, and officiant.
  11. [S7192] Riley Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  12. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 14784848, Elvira Street Williams, includes tombstone photo showing her as his wife.
  13. [S7201] Record of Marriages, Linn Co., Kansas, 2:285 marriage of W. R. Williams and Amy Morrison, 13 Nov 1876, shows date, town, and officiant.
  14. [S7186] William R. Williams household, 1880 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas, shows married.
  15. [S7187] William R. Williams household, 1900 U.S. Census, Adams Co., Washington, shows married 23 years.
  16. [S6421] Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, online, "Washington State Death Records," record for William Riley Williams, shows date and location, as Illinois. [perhaps confused with place of birth?]
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 164647702, William R Williams, shows date and includes transcription of obituary from The Washington State Journal, 28 Jan 1909, showing date and location.
  18. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 164647702, William R Williams.
  19. [S7193] J. R. Williams household, 1840 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Illinois.
  20. [S7191] Jno. R. Williams household, 1850 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Illinois.
  21. [S7197] William R. Williams, script/warrant land patent, 1 Sep 1860, Bureau of Land Management, Lecompton Land Office, 80 acres, W½NE¼, sect. 29, twp. 020S, range 025E.
  22. [S7195] William R. Williams, Civil War Draft Registrations Records.
  23. [S7196] Kansas Civil War Militia Muster Rolls, vol 14 pp 44, 46, 48, 50, vol 5 pg 48, show unit and place, and various dates all apparent typographical errors in the transcription.
  24. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908, shows year, as 1861 [but the 1863 draft registration shows no prior military service] and unit, as Enrolled Militia of Kansas [but there was no such militia in Kansas].
  25. [S7196] Kansas Civil War Militia Muster Rolls, vol 14 pp 44, 46, 48, 50, vol 5 pg 48, show dates called and released, and days served.
  26. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908, shows battles.
  27. [S7148] Dyer, A Compendium of the War of Rebellion, pg 1189, shows units called in Oct 1864.
  28. [S7148] Dyer, A Compendium of the War of Rebellion, pg 1189.
  29. [S7189] William R. Williams household, 1865 Kansas State Census, Linn Co., Kansas, Valley Twp.
  30. [S7198] William R. Williams, script/warrant land patent, 1 Aug 1865, Bureau of Land Management, Lecompton Land Office, 80 acres, E½NE¼, sect. 29, twp. 020S, range 025E.
  31. [S7199] William R. Williams, script/warrant land patent, 1 Dec 1866, Bureau of Land Management, Topeka Land Office, 98.49 acres, E½NW¼, sect. 23, twp. 020S, range 025E.
  32. [S7188] William Williams household, 1870 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas.
  33. [S7190] Wm. R. Williams household, 1875 Kansas State Census, Linn Co., Kansas, Valley Twp.
  34. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 14784848, Elvira Street Williams, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  35. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908, shows year.
  36. [S7009] John M. Street, Carroll Co. Missouri probate case files, final settlement 13 Aug 1889, shows her share going to her children.
  37. [S7186] William R. Williams household, 1880 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas.
  38. [S7194] History of the Big Bend Country, Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties, pg 908, shows he was a farmer and bought and sold livestock for 10 years.
  39. [S7202] W. R. Williams household, 1889 Washington Territory Census, Adams Co., Washington Territory.
  40. [S7187] William R. Williams household, 1900 U.S. Census, Adams Co., Washington.
  41. [S7009] John M. Street, Carroll Co. Missouri probate case files, 1st settlement 15 Aug 1888; final settlement 13 Aug 1889.
  42. [S7205] General Land Office Records, online, cert. no. 2512, William R. Williams, Adams Co., Washington, 19 Jun 1895, 160 acres, NW¼, sect. 22, twp. 015N, range 033E.
  43. [S7205] General Land Office Records, online, cert. no. 648, William R. Williams, Adams Co., Washington, 22Jun 1899, 160 acres, NE¼, sect. 30, twp. 015N, range 033E.
  44. [S7206] Will Books, Adams Co., Washington, 2:89, will of W. R. Williams, 1 Feb 1909.
  45. [S7207] W. R. Williams, Adams Co. Washington probate case files, Inventory, 27 Mar 1909.
  46. [S7207] W. R. Williams, Adams Co. Washington probate case files, Final Report and Petition for Decree of Distribution, 13 Jul 1910.
  47. [S7207] W. R. Williams, Adams Co. Washington probate case files, Order Confirming Final Account and Decree of Distribution, 1 Sep 1910.
  48. [S7192] Riley Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  49. [S6421] Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, online, "Washington State Death Records," record for John Richardson Williams.
  50. [S7207] W. R. Williams, Adams Co. Washington probate case files, Final Report and Petition for Decree of Distribution, 13 Jul 1910, shows him as William's heir.
  51. [S7189] William R. Williams household, 1865 Kansas State Census, Linn Co., Kansas, Valley Twp., shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  52. [S7188] William Williams household, 1870 U.S. Census, Linn Co., Kansas, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  53. [S7203] Linn Co KSGenWeb, online, "Maple Grove Cemetery," listing for Sarah M. Williams.
  54. [S7009] John M. Street, Carroll Co. Missouri probate case files, final settlement 13 Aug 1889, shows the her as daughter of his late wife.
  55. [S7207] W. R. Williams, Adams Co. Washington probate case files, Final Report and Petition for Decree of Distribution, 13 Jul 1910, shows her as his heir.
  56. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 28860155, Elizabeth Williams, includes tombstone photo showing then as her parents.
  57. [S7203] Linn Co KSGenWeb, online, "Maple Grove Cemetery," listing for Elizabeth ? Williams.
  58. [S7190] Wm. R. Williams household, 1875 Kansas State Census, Linn Co., Kansas, Valley Twp., shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  59. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Florence Elia Lobaugh, shows father's surname as Williams.
  60. [S7009] John M. Street, Carroll Co. Missouri probate case files, final settlement 13 Aug 1889, shows the boy as son of his late wife.