Jacob Williams
Jacob Williams was born in Montgomery County,Ohio, May 19, 1835, the fourth son of Israel and Susannah (Ritter) Williams, the former a native of Bedford County,Pa.,and the latter of North Carolina. They were married in Montgomery County,Ohio, and in the fall of 1836 they moved to Wayne County, Ind.,where Israel Williams followed farming till about 1859, when he kept a toll gate til his death, which occurred July 3,1863. His wife survived him till Feb. 7,1878. They were active members of the German Baptist Church for many years. Their family consisted of eight children, seven still living. Jacob Williams was reared on his father's farm and was educated at district schools. When seventeen years old he began learning the carpenter's trade and worked as a journeyman a number of years. He moved to Henry County,Ind., in 1865, where he has since followed farming and carpentering. He is a member of the United Brethren church and has been a minister in the church for ten years. He is a Republican in politics and is a strong advocate of Prohibition. He was first married May 13, 1866, to Martha, daughter of David and Martha Bird, who died March 13,1878, leaving three children--Laura, Horace and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Williams was again married March 8, 1879, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Margaret L. (Jacobs) Williams, natives of Darke County,Ohio. To this union were born two children--Cora and Arthur.
From History of Henry County, Indiana, Interstate Publishing Co, Chicago, 1884