Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 964 - 965

WILLIAM H. WILLIAMSON, prominent among the well-to-do farmers of Grand River Township, was particularly fortunate in coming to this county, having now a farm located in a section that has fortunately escaped failure of crops during the dry season. He is comparatively a young man, and commenced life for himself about the time of reaching his majority. Dependent upon his own resources, he has learned to live economically, and is now the possessor of a good property valued at about $4,000. His farm is watered by the North Fork of the Ninnescah, and has proved one of the most fertile tracts in the western part of the county. He secured it by pre-emption, and feels well repaid for his early labors and sacrifices.

            A native of Orange County, N. Y., our subject was born on the 8th of February, 1851, and is the son of Thomas and Eliza (Ritchie) Williamson, who were born in Ireland, the father on the 4th of August, 1816, and the mother in June, 1827. They emigrated with their parents to the United States at an early age. The father was reared in Orange County, N. Y., and the mother in the Dominion of Canada. Thomas Williamson, a short time before the outbreak of the Rebellion, changed his residence from the Empire State to Randolph County, Ill., of which he was a resident for a period of seventeen years. In 1876 he came to this county, and by purchase and pre-emption secured a fine tract of land in Kechi Township. He is now farming there.

            The father of our subject was twice married, having one child by his first wife, and ten by the second. William H. was a son of the second marriage, and was quite young when his father removed from New York to Illinois. He completed his education in the common schools of Randolph County, the latter State, and had been married two years when he came to this county. This first interesting event was celebrated in Randolph County, Ill., on the 17th of November, 1874, his bride being Miss Eliza A. Williamson, a cousin of our subject. Mrs. W. is the daughter of James and Ellen (Williamson) Williamson, natives of Ireland. The mother is dead, and the father lives in Dakota. Of her union with our subject there have been born six children: Ella, Oct. 12, 1877; John H., June 6, 1879; Frederick, Oct. 7, 1881; Mabel, Jan. 10, 1883, and Clarence, Sept. 23, 1886; Tommie died in infancy. Mrs. Williamson was born in New York, Jan. 26, 1848, and came to the West in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. W. have a pleasant home, a bright and interesting family, and a large circle of warm friends.

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