Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 850 - 851

WILLIAM WILLIAMSON, an energetic farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 22, Payne Township, was born in Manchester, England, Feb. 19, 1828. He is a son of William and Hannah (Loomis) Williamson, both natives of merry England, the mother having been born in Derbyshire, and the father in Yorkshire. The family came to the United States in 1852, and the father and mother have since died and are laid to rest at Montezuma, Iowa. The father was a wholesale trader in tea at Manchester, England. He adhered to the tenets of the Church of England, while his wife sought spiritual consolation with the Wesleyan Methodists.

            To the parents of the subject of this sketch were born six children, viz: William, Elizabeth, Richard Felton, Margaret Alice, Thomas Felton and Anna, Richard F. was in the employ of the Kingsley Mining Company, of Colorado, and died there; he was buried in the Gunnison Valley, in the western part of that State. Elizabeth married twice; the first husband was William Davis, and the second William Middleham; they are residents of Montana Territory. Margaret Alice saw her ideal man in Francis H. Whip, and he the lady of his choice in Margaret; they were accordingly made man and wife, and chose Milwaukee, Wis., for their home. Anna was united in marriage with William Delano, who is a conductor on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, while she is acting as telegraph operator at the city of their residence, Davenport, Iowa.     

            Returning to the subject of our sketch, William, it would be well to note that the most important event of his life was his marriage, May 24, 1870, to Mrs. Sarah Taylor, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Wikle) Gerard. Her parents were natives of Virginia, the "Mother of Presidents," and in that State her father carried on the business of farming. They were strong adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and quite patriarchal in their character. They were blessed with a family of fourteen children, all of whom are now living except one. The old people have gone across the mystic river, and entered into that rest which is promised unto the faithful.

            The subject of our sketch, leaving the shores of "white-cliffed Albion" in 1851, came to the United States, preceding his parents by about a year. He landed at the port of New York, and went from there to Maryland at once, which State he made his home for two years. At the end of that time be returned to New York, and from there to Wisconsin. For some fifteen years he was engaged as steward on several lake vessels, but in the fall of 1870 he came to Kansas, and located near where his present place now is. In a short time after this he purchased the quarter-section of land which he now occupies. Previous to coming to the United States, in 1849, he made a trip to the British possessions in the East Indies, on the store ship "Senator of Liverpool," which was carrying munitions of war and supplies for the troops in that country, as it was during what was known as the China War. On this ship, which was in the employ of the British Government, he acted as steward for the round trip, which took considerable time in those days, as they were compelled to go round the Cape of Good Hope.

            Mrs. Williamson at the time of her marriage was the widow of John Taylor, and was the mother of two daughters - Mary Emily and Sarah Jane. Mary married Lewis Sparman, and for nine years made her residence in Pittsburgh, Pa., but she and her husband, who is a lumber dealer, are now at home with her mother, until Mr. Sparman can find a business locality suited to his desires. Sarah Jane married George J. Dedrick, a farmer living in Benton, Kan., and is the mother of one child, Benjamin Lewis. Mary E. Sparman's children's names are Willie L., John Howard, Sarah Elenore and Henry Edgar. Mr. Williamson has filled the office of Clerk of the School Board for some twelve years, and takes a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the educational system of the township. He is an estimable citizen, and an honorable and upright gentleman. Mrs. Williamson enjoys religious consolation under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination she is a consistent member. They are the parents of three children living; two have preceded them to the other shore, and are at rest. The living bear the names of William Franklin, Edward L. and John M. Alice and one child unnamed are the two " Not lost, but gone before."

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