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Dr. R. J. Williams, lumberman, stockdealer, farmer and prominent citizen
of the Fourth District, and a son of Joseph and Nancy Williams, was born
in North Carolina in 1841. The father was born in North Carolina about
1810, and was of Welsh ancestry. His father, Adam Williams, was a native
of Wales, who immigrated to the United States and settled in North Carolina.
He was a farmer, and died in 1873 at the ripe old age of nearly one hundred
years. Joseph, our subject�s father, received his education in the common
schools, and was married about 1839. He died in 1859. Mrs. Williams was
born in North Carolina in 1806, and is still living with our subject, who
remained at home till his majority, and received his education at the Franklin
Military Institute, North Carolina. In 1862 he began the study of medicine
under Dr. T. J. Hicks, of Gadsden, and in 1864 entered the medical department
of the University of Iowa, and took one course. He graduated at the Eclectic
Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1865, and immediately began to
practice. In 1872 he abandoned his practice on account of ill health, and
then became engaged in the drug business at Gadsden, which he continued
till 1883. In 1874 he was appointed postmaster at Gadsden, and held that
position till 1885, when he resigned and moved to where he now resides.
He is a man of good business capacity, and has accumulated considerable
of this world�s goods, now owning over 1,000 acres besides two fruit farms
near Gadsden, and a half interest in a business store in town. In 1861
he enlisted with �the boys in gray� in Company I, Sixth Tennessee Infantry,
and was made second lieutenant. In August of the same year he resigned
his commission on account of ill health, and did not again enter the service.
In October, 1863, he married Miss Nancy E., daughter of Dr. T. J. and Ann
Hicks, and to this union were born three children, only two of whom are
living: Charley M. and T. J. Mrs. Williams died in October, 1868, and in
February, 1871, he married Dora, daughter of Matthew and Fannie Caruthers.
To this union were born six children: Robert O., Ida, Walter S., Gay M.,
Earl and J. Hicks. In politics the Doctor is conservative, but is an ardent
advocate of prohibition. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and he and wife are
members of the Christian Church. The Doctor has lately moved back to town,
and has gone into the drug business, and his wife has presented him with
twin girl babies � Lizzie and Fannie.
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