Benj. B. Williams

    Benj. B. Williams, Lancaster Township, Jefferson County. The subject of this sketch was born and reared on a farm in Lancaster Township. He learned the blacksmith trade from his father, and has been engaged in that business the principal part of his life -the greater part of the time in this county.

    He was born four miles southeast of Dupont, April 7, 1826, and attended the schools of that day.

    In 1847 he started to work at this trade in the town of Dupont, in a shop of his own, and continued at that business until 1854, when he went to Rising Sun and engaged in the retailed rug business. He remained there until December, 1857, when, on account of his health, he was compelled to sell out the business. At that time he came back to Jefferson County, and purchased an interest in the mill at Lancaster, now known as the "Landon Mills." The mill was owned by John B. craft and himself, the firm being Craft & Williams.

    This firm continued until 1860, when Mr. Craft sold out to Mr. t. G. Payne, and the firm name became Payne & Williams. This firm continued until December, 1868, when Mr. Williams sold out his interest in the mill. In all, about eleven years spent in the milling business.

    In 1868 Mr. Williams came back to Dupont and engaged in the blacksmith and agricultural implement business, and has been engaged in these two businesses ever since. In connection with his agricultural implement business she has dealt largely in the sale of fertilizing material ever since bone dust was first introduced into this county.

    He is a democrat in politics, and was elected as Township Trustee of Lancaster Township, in 1880 against a majority of seventy or eighty on the Republican side.

    Mr. Williams is a member of the Baptist Church at Dupont, and is a trustee for the church.

    He has been an Odd fellow since 1874.

    He was married in November, 1852, to Miss Esther J. Craft, daughter of John B. Craft, Sr. They have five living children, three boys and two girls: Mary E., married May 12, 1875, to Rev. John E. McCoy, a Baptist preacher of Indianapolis; James B., who is now practicing medicine in Indianapolis; John C., city editor on Democrat, Anderson, Indiana; and Benj. A. and Myra are still in school.

    Mr. B. B. Williams is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Blue) Williams, who were the parents of twelve children (Benjamin being the eldest), nine sons and three daughters.

    Robert Williams was born a few miles back of Louisville, in Nelson County, on Salt River, and went, when quite young with his father, to Greene County, Ohio, and from there came to Indiana in 1814, and settled four miles southeast of where Dupont now is, where he died February 24, 1876m at the age of 79 years.

    Elizabeth Williams died at the old homestead, Jefferson County, Indiana, May 26, 1872, aged 65 years.