Joseph Williamson
Joseph Williamson residing about one and one half miles southeast of Phillipsburg, Montgomery County Ohio (died April 19th) age 87 years, 2 months and 27 days. He had been in his usual health until the 10th instant, when he took a chill and a spell of vomiting, gradually declining until about 8 o'clock on Saturday morning, (19th) death relieved him of his suffering. Deceased was born in Fayette County, PA, on the 22nd day of January 1797, and removed with his parents to Ohio in 1803. They first went to Cincinnati and then moved to Warren County, OH. They removed to Clay Township, Montgomery County about 1817. His father John Williamson, entered 2 quarter sections of land, where he lived until his death, in January 1855; he was ninety years old. The land was divided among his 5 sons, Joseph, the subject of this sketch, receiving as his portion the tract on which he had ever since lived, which was then a wilderness. December the 9th 1819 which was about two years after their arrival in Montgomery county, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Bower, she was born in Muhlenburg county, KY September 13, 1802; and was the daughter of John Bower, who was born in Lebanon County, PA in 1763; emigrated to KY and in the year 1812 moved his family to Clay Township. Soon after their marriage, they took up there abode on the land he inherited; he cleared out a place to locate, and erected there on a log cabin, as their dwelling. He experienced all the hardships of pioneer life, laboring very hard, and as his venerable wife remarked, "Often subsisting on corn bread and water." He helped to open all the roads in the surrounding community. His matrimonial union was blessed with 10 children, four boys and six girls, only one of which preceded him to her eternal home. Nine are therefore still living, together with their mother, to mourn the loss of him who has been so anxious for their temporal and also their spiritual welfare, so affectionate in his intercourse with his family, and so highly respected by all who truly knew him. His children and their places of abode are as follows; John B., born October 16, 1821, who resides in Darke county, OH was never married; Elisha A., born October 16th 1823, married Sophia Huller, and has a family of eight sons and 1 daughter, all of Lasalle, county, IL. Delilah was born June 29th 1825, now the widow of Henry Pearson of IA, Cloud County, had a family of eight children, one dead; Garrett born August 22nd 1827, now living at west Baltimore, Preble County OH, first married to Clarissa Basecker, and there were born to them 2 children; he next married Sarah Basecker, and after her death he married Louisa Hart, and to her had 2 children, one being dead. After her decease, he married Carolyn Barnett, with whom he now lives and has to her a family of eight children; Nancy born March 10, 1830, now the wife of Benjamin Culver of Illinois, and has a family of 11 children, of whom only 6 are living, next was Rachel, who died at the age of 18 months; Emeline, June 25, 1835, now the wife of Joshua Falknor, of Clay Township, Montgomery County OH, has a family of 6 children of which one is dead; Cevilla, born May 12, 1839, married William Davenport of Phillipsburg, where they now reside, with a family of 3 children, having one already in the spirit world; Easom B. was born June 24th, 1843, and was united in marriage to Isabella Leedy, daughter of Jacob Leedy, of Darke County, February 21 1867, they have a family of 4 children, and reside on the old home farm where they have been taking care of his venerable father and mother; Sara, the youngest child was born April 24, 1843, is now the widow of Lewis Warner, of Clay Township, and has one son, with whom she now resides, on a property adjoining the old farm. Joseph and his wife Sarah, in early life, united with the United Brethren Church in an old schoolhouse in which is now known as the Worman District, about 2 1/2 miles south of Phillipsburg. Four years after their union with that church, they became identified with the Christian Church of Phillipsburg, of which the Rev. Thomas Shethen was then pastor. He was a faithful member of his church until the time of his death. On Thursday evening prior to his death, feeling that the brittle thread of life was nearly broken, and that he might at any moment be called to take his departure from, he called to his bed one by one, his children and also his grandchildren and bade them farewell, at the same time admonishing them to live that their end might be as his.
It is said by those who witnessed this scene, that it was very impressive, long to be remembered, and calculated to arouse anyone to a sense of his duty as to how this life should be spent. He gave clear evidence of a blessed hope of entering into a better land than this, expressing a desire at different times to depart from this unfriendly world. His funeral took place April 21, in the G.B. Church east of Phillipsburg. The occasion was improved by a short discourse based on Isa. Forty; 6 and 7. Revs. David Murray and Jessie stutterman of the G.B. Church and Aaron Peffley, of the Mennonite Church, officiating. The services were conducted in the presence of a large and sympathetic audience.
After which the mortal remains were laid away in the beautiful cemetery near the church.
Submitted by Richard R. Williamson Sr