This is an ever growing list of Union County Biographies. If there is just the page listed it is one that I have transcribed. Otherwise, it will have the name of the person who donated the biographies. If you have any biographies you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.

SAMUEL B. WILLIAMSON. The career of the subject of this sketch ahs been replete with many vicissitudes and changing scenes, and much interesting matter could he recount of the experiences here of the early days of Union county, having come here when the white men were not in the ascendency and when the real hardship and self-denial incident to pioneer life were on every hand to be encountered, and which he overcame while he did noble work in assisting to build this county and to develop its resources.

We have to revert to the city of brotherly love, in Pennsylvania, to find the birthplace of our subject, the date thereof being October 11, 1842, and his parents, Thomas and Susan (Burkingre) Williamson. He spent the first twelve years of his life in the city of his birth, being educated in the schools there, and then went with the parents to Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1855, whence they all went one year later to Sullivan county, Missouri. From that county in 1862, they started on the long journey across the plains toward California, theirs being the Yount's train. Falling in with another train on the road, they took the route that led through the Grande Ronde valley, and when they rested their eyes on this favored spot they determined to remain here, since the teams were tired and they had found a section that was good. Immediately hands went to work to erect the primitive cabin for shelter, and they staked off their claims from the unsurveyed land. Indians were sullen and ugly and would pull up the stakes and scare the families when the men were absent. The land was not surveyed until 1872. Our subject bought one-half section from the state, took up a pre-emption and a homestead, thus giving him one section of land. He bent his energies to improve this holding, raised stock and did general farming. He later took up a timber claim and followed the stock business until 1892, then turned his attention to mining, acquiring large interests in the Panhandle property in this county, of which he held the management as well as of other properties in the Whitney mining district, also in the Grande Ronde district.

In October, 1878, Mr. Williamson married Miss Susan L., daughter of Harvey and Rebecca (Anderson) McAlister, of Lagrande, she being a sister of John W. McAlister and cousin of D.A. McAlister. Six children have been born to this union; Ruth, Thomas H., Louisa H., Rebecca A., Sarah L., and Eleanor M. Our subject is Republican in political matters and is quite active in this realm, being an influential man in the field. He served as deputy sheriff under R.J. Rodgers. He is also a member of the I.O.O.F., having held several offices in that lodge. His wife is a member of the relief corps, and they both affiliate with the Presbyterian church and are stanch supporters of their faith. Mr. Williamson is now living on his estate, one and one-half miles east from Lagrande, and his time is given to farming, gardening, and mining, and he is one of the representative men of the county and has the good will and esteem of all.

Born in county Antrim, Ireland, in the year 1814, she was there educated and in 1839 there married Thomas Williamson and the same year broke home ties and started for the boundless fortunes of America. One year was spent in New York, then sixteen in Philadelphia, and in 1855 she came to Iowa, whence, in 1857, she went to Missouri, and from that place in 1862, journeyed across the plains to the Grande Ronde valley. Being strong supporters of the Union, she and her husband were forced to sell their fine farm of three hundred acres and well improved for a mere pittance, which supplied their needs on the long journey, and gave them a little to start with in this wild country. They drew up at the spot where she now lives and the weary oxen were given a rest while the travel-worn pilgrims selected from the virgin soil a place for a home. Their wisdom was manifest, for to-day there is not a better piece of soil in the valley than the farm of about two hundred acres that Mrs. Williamson owns adjoining Lagrande. It was school land and they acquired title by purchase from the state. Mrs. Williamson is the mother of six children: Joseph, deceased; Samuel B., married, and living in Lagrande; Elizabeth S., deceased; Hanna M., wife of R.J. Rogers, and living in Lagrande; John T., married to Winnie Wilkinson, and living in Lagrande; Sarah J., deceased. Some of those who stopped with Mr. and Mrs. Williamson were Mr. and Mrs. McAlister, Mr. and Mrs. George Gekeler, Arthur Hemmings, George Horsepool and George Goodman. Lagrande then consisted of three log cabins, the first having been built by County Assessor Ben Brown. Mrs. Williamson is very active and enjoys good health and is able to relate many thrilling anecdotes of the early pioneer history and hardships that are too little written that the succeeding generations may know what it cost to wrest this land from the grasp of the savage Indian and introduce here the abode of civilization. And now to this pilgrim, whose life has been lengthened in a remarkable manner, we are pleased that we have had the privilege to grant this brief review and we are also pleased to state that she is held in honor and has won the love and confidence of all who may have the pleasure of her acquaintance.