GREEN B. WILLIAMS, a prominent farmer of Pope County, was born in 1844 and is a son of Josiah Williams, who was also born, it is believed, in Pope County, March 20, 1808, and was the eldest child of John Williams, who was probably born in Virginia, and came to Illinois about the time the Indians were removed from Virginia, that is about 1832. He was a farmer, and died on his farm in Pope County about 1858, having been the father of ten children, of whom but three grew to manhood, viz: John, a farmer and a Methodist minister, residing in Pope County, who has a family; James, who died at the age of twenty-two years; and Josiah, who married Hannah Mahala Hathaway.
The maternal grandfather was one of the very first settlers in southern Illinois, and died at an early age either in Pennsylvania or Virginia; his widow came to Illinois about 1818. His nearest neighbor at first was some ten miles away, and was a squatter on land about four miles northeast of the present home of Green H. Williams. He first had to go twenty miles to mill, but soon made a hand mill in which to grind corn. He was a successful and prosperous man, owning at the time of his death three hundred and sixty acres of land.
The parents of our subject lived in Pope County all their lives except for two years' residence in Missouri, and had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom Green B. was the seventh child and fourth son in order of birth. The father of these children died December 1, 18G3, at the age of fifty-five years, and his wife passed away July 3, 1874, at the age of sixty-three years. They were well situated in life, and all their property was unencumbered by debt. Five of their children are living, viz: Parmelia, wife of T. G. Gibbs, a farmer of Kentucky; Phoebe, wife of P. M. Gibbs, of Saline County, Ill.; Green B.; Francis Marion, a farmer of Missouri; and Cynthia, wife of S. L. Hayes, a farmer of Pope County. Green B. Williams was brought up on a farm and during his boyhood days received but little education; but during his four years' service in the Civil War he learned to read and write. He enlisted when he was twenty years of age, in November, 1861, in Company K, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, under command of Capt. W. R. Floyd. He was on duty during the entire term of his service, except for three months in the hospital, and two furloughs, one of ten and one of twenty days. He was wounded in the left leg at Missionary Ridge by a ball and was off duty a few days in consequence.
Mr. Williams was married December 24, 1865, to Miss Sarah J. Gibbs, of Hardin County, Ill.; the wedding occurred in Pope County, where they soon afterward settled on a farm, upon which they lived until removing to their present ninety-five acre farm on section 27 in 1881. They have buried two infant children, and have the following living: Francis M., a farmer near by, who has a wife and one daughter; William T., a young man, now married; Martha Catherine, wife of George T. Hancock, a farmer of Pope County, who has two sons; David S., a young man at home; George W., fifteen years old; James P., thirteen; Anna Viola, eleven; Mark, ten; Clara Etta. eight; Lorinda Bell, six; Isaac Newton, three, and Fanny M., one year old. Mr. Williams is a Third Degree Odd Fellow, holding membership with Lodge No. 615, at Eddyville, and is a Republican in politics. He has served as School Director nine years, and in his religious affairs he is a member of the United Baptist Church, in the work of which he takes an active part, and is a most interesting exhorter.
Extracted from Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, published in 1893, page 407
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