Henry E. Williams

HENRY E. WILLIAMS, a and highly respected agriculturist of Neosho township, Labette county, Kansas, living in the north half of the northeast quarter of section 27, was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1847. He is a son of Thomas and Mary E. (Starbuck) Williams.

Thomas Williams was born in New Jersey, and he and his wife were the parents of the following children, namely: Mary; Jane; Henry E.; Maggie; Elizabeth; Anna; Charles; and John.

Henry E. Williams was reared and schooled in his native state, and in 1856 went to the western part of Illinois, where he lived until 1867. He then went to Missouri, where he lived one year, and, in 1868, to Lyon county, Kansas. Mr. Williams enlisted in Company M. 19th Reg., Kans. Vol. Cav., in 1868. He served under Col. Samuel J. Crawford, who resigned his office of governor of Kansas in order to accept the colonelcy. Mr. Williams saw service in the western part of Kansas, and at one time was obliged to live for fourteen days on unsalted buffalo meat. In 1869 he returned to Lyon county, where he remained one year, and then moved to Coffey county, Kansas. In 1872 he located in Labette county, and settled on his present farm, where he has since lived. Although busily engaged in farming, he takes an active interest in the affairs of the township in which he resides.

Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Melvina Sturm, who was born in Hardy county, West Virginia, in 1854. Her father, WiIliam M. Sturm, was born in Virginia in 1822, and was a farmer and school teacher; his wife was also a native of Virginia, and was born in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Sturm reared five children: Mary; Nathaniel; Melvina; Susan; and Henry. The subject of this sketch and his wife are the parents of four children, namely Thomas, a grain merchant in Winfield, Kansas; Rosetta; Walter, deceased; and Minnie May, deceased. Mr. Williams built his new frame house in 1897. He is very popular in the community, and is highly respected by all. Mr. Williams votes an independent ticket, and has served as clerk of the township for four years; he was treasurer for two terms, and was on the school board for fourteen years. He belongs to the Anti-Horsethief Association, and the A. 0. U. W. Lodge, No. 70, of McCune. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist church.