From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 942-944
 
THOMAS F. WILLIAMS.  Year has been added to year and decade to decade until 
nearly sixty years have been numbered with the past since Thomas F. WILLIAMS, 
one of the best known and highly honored agriculturists of Delavan township, 
Walworth county, came here with his parents from the Old Empire state.  Upon 
his arrival this section of the Badger state was largely an undeveloped 
region, awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneer to transform its 
wild lands into rich farms and beautiful homes, to found cities and towns, to 
establish churches and schools, and in many other ways to reclaim the country, 
for the use of man.  As a representative of one of the early families that led 
the van of civilization into this favored region, Mr. WILLIAMS well deserves 
mention with the substantial men of the county, for he has seen and taken part 
in the work of development not only in a material way, but also along civic, 
educational and moral lines, and his reminiscences of the early days here are 
indeed interesting, and it is with pleasure that a review of his long, 
interesting and useful career is herewith presented.
 
Mr. WILLIAMS was born on May 2, 1837, in Albany, New York, and he was the son 
of J. J. and Ellen (RICHARDSON) WILLIAMS.  His father was of Welsh descent and 
was born near Newport News in 1798 and he went to New York in 1826, finally 
emigrating to Delavan township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1852, where he 
bought eighty acres of land and remained until his death, on June 4, 1870, 
having begun life here in typical pioneer fashion, but he was not permitted to 
long enjoy his new home, having been "gathered to his fathers" before fully 
developing his farm.  His widow survived many years joining him in the spirit 
land on June 13, 1894.  They were the parents of the following children: 
Elizabeth, who married a Mr. HOLLISTER, is now deceased; James R., Thomas F. 
and Margaret A., the last named being now deceased.
 
Thomas F. WILSON, of this review, was reared on the home farm and when but a 
lad he assisted with the arduous toil on the same, and he obtained what 
education he could in the early district schools of Walworth county and at 
Allen's Grove, state of Wisconsin.  He has followed farming all his life and 
has been rewarded by a large measure of success.  He is the owner of a well 
improved, well kept and productive farm in Delavan township, section 35, where 
in connection wtih general farming, he has acquired a good annual income.  In 
1911 he retired from active farm life and is now surrounded by plenty as a 
result of his former years of activity, spending his declining age in comfort.
 
Mr. WILLIAMS was married on February 21, 1861, to Cynthia A. BARNES, daughter 
of Stephen and Emily BARNES, of the state of New York.  This union resulted in 
the birth of one child, Ellen L., now deceased.
 
Mr. WILLIAMS is a Republican in politics, and, fraternally, he belongs to the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that lodge in 1873.  He has 
been chairman of the Delavan township board for the past seven years and has 
been justice of the peace since 1877, still holding the office, having been 
out of office only one and one-half terms since he was first elected to the 
same.  He has discharged its affairs in an able and eminently satisfactory 
manner, his decisions being fair and unbiased and he has given the entire 
community eminent satisfaction in this capacity and has proven to be a worthy 
and able public official.  He is highly respected for his uniform courtesy and 
honesty.  Mrs. WILLIAMS departed this life November 2, 1910, since which time 
Mr. WILLIAMS has boarded.
 
Submitted by Carol