HARDEN M. WILLIAMS

 

     Harden M. Williams, who is classed among the prominent farmers and stock-dealers of Cedar County, Mo., was born on his present farm November 21, 1842, and is the son of Judge Robert and Lavica (Williams), and the grandson of Robert Williams, Sr., who was of Welch extraction, and who died in Cedar County, Mo. Mrs. Williams’ father, John G. Williams, was also an early settler of Cedar County, Mo., and built a grist-mill on Cedar Creek, one of the first in Southwestern Missouri, and supplied the whole country with flour and meal.  Judge Williams was born in South Carolina and 1806, removed with his parents to Middle Tennessee, and in an early day emigrated to Miller County, Mo., and in 1837 to what is now Cedar County.  He settled in the woods on Cedar Creek, several miles from any other settlement, improved a good farm, and there spent the rest of his life, dying July 12, 1881.  He had lived on the same farm for forty-four years, and was one of the very first white settlers in that region.  He was fond of hunting, and, as the forest abounded with wild animals, he had abundant opportunities to test his skill as a marksman.  He lived in three counties, and did not move.  For about three years, from 1867, he was judge of the county court, and was one of the county’s sturdy, honest pioneers.  He was a man of considerable means, was very successful in all business operations, and for many years acted as banker in his vicinity, loaning money to all in need of it.  Although born and reared in the South, he was a stanch Union man during the war, and held the rank of captain.  He was married four times, and all the children living are by the first wife.  Harden M. Williams is the fifth of four sons and two daughters—these living, viz.:  Francis M., of Nebraska; Fernetta, wife of James M. Preston; Harden M., and J. K. all of Cedar County.  Harden M. received an ordinary education in the common schools, and August 15, 1872, he enlisted in Company F, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was in active service for three years.  He was in the siege of Vicksburg, was at the capture of Little Rock with Steel’s expedition, and was at the capture of Camden.  He was mustered out at Fort Gibson, I. T., and was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, August 15, 1865.  He was never captured or wounded, and rode the same horse home which he had taken from home in 1861.  In 1869 Miss Ida Sherman became his wife.  She was born in Cass County, Mo., in 1853, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth Sherman, natives of Vermont and Ohio, respectively.  My and Mrs. Sherman were married in the last named State, and came to Cedar County, Mo., a few years previous to the war.  There Mrs. Sherman is still living, but Mr. Sherman died in 1874.  To Mr. Williams and wife were born four children, three sons living: J. Robert, Oscar E. and Freddie M.  Mr. Williams lived five years in Box Township, and then moved to the farm of his birth, were he has 580 acres, 200 under cultivation.  He is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of the county.  He is a Republican in politics, and his first presidential vote was for Lincoln in 1864.  He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Clintonville Lodge, since 1882, and is a member of the G. A. R., Col. Leonard Post, at El Dorado. He and wife have been members in good standing for nearly twenty years in the Baptist Church, and he has been deacon in the same for some time. His father served on the first grand jury held in St. Clair County when it included Cedar County.

From the History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889, p. 788-789

 

A - B    C - D     E - G     H - L     M - N     O - R     S - T     U - Z

 

Please contact the County Coordinator if you have family information or photos that can be displayed on this page.