Tag: Williams

WILLIAMS, Sgt. David Richard (Biography)

 

David Richard Williams was the son of David Williams and Mary Richards Williams.

 

The family was from Antiglobe, Gramoganshire, Wales in 1822. David Richard Williams was 6 weeks old when he arrived in Pittsburgh, PA. He may have been born aboard ship enroute. He had dark hair, dark complexion, grey eyes, and he was 5’6” in height.  Mary Richard Williams died aboard ship enroute to America and was buried at sea.  The siblings of David Richard Williams were: Mary, John, and Margaret. David Richard Williams married Arabella Foreman on January 1, 1847 in Pittsburgh, PA. 

 

David Richard Williams enlisted in the Union Army on December 11, 1861 in St. Louis, MO in the Civil War. He fought the Indians at Fort Defiance in Company A, Merrill’s Horse Calvary. Muster records cover December 11, 1861 through October 1864. Then Sergeant David Richard Williams was transferred to Company I, 4th Regiment, Veteran’s Reserve Corp and discharged. September was to be his mustered-out date. 

 

The children of David Richard Williams and Arabella Foreman Williams were:  

  • Caroline “Carrie” L. Williams (who died in youth)
  • Emma Ann Williams (born Shaler Township, Allegheny County, PA)
  • Arabella Williams (born PA), Birdie MaeWilliams (born Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Perry Hazard Williams (born St. Louis, MO), Margaret Richard Williams (born St. Louis, MO)
  • David Richard Williams, Jr. (born St. Louis, MO).
  • They had two children who died in infancy. 

 

David Richard Williams signed away his property in Allegheny County, PA, in payment for a bond he had signed for a friend who defaulted as County Tax Assessor. The property was never recovered by the heirs.

1850 census, Shaler, Allegheny, PA (143/151): David Richard Williams (26) Boiler, b. Wales; Arrabella Foreman Williams (24) b. NY; Caroline L. Williams (3) b. PA; Emma Ann Williams (9/12) b. PA.

 

1858, July 27, St. Louis, MO, David Richard Williams, naturalization as a citizen of United States at the Law County Court.

 

1860 census, St. Louis, MO (798/2005): David Richard Williams (34) a puddler who forged steel, b. England (Wales); Arabella Foreman Williams (27, b. PA); Caroline L. Williams (12, b. Ohio); Emma Ann Williams (10, b. PA); Arabella Williams (3, b. PA). 

 

1880 census, Memphis, Shelby County, TN, District 15, E.D. 130, town of Chelsea:  

  • David Richard Williams (53, b. 1827 in Wales) a puddler, parents b. Wales
  • Arabella Foreman Williams (52, born NY) parents b. PA
  • Arabella Williams (19, born PA) mother b. NY, father b. Wales
  • Perry Hazard Williams (17, born MO) mother b. NY, father b. Wales
  • David Richard Williams, Jr. (14, born MO) mother b. NY, father b. Wales
  • Margaret “Maggie” Richard Williams (11, born MO) mother b. NY, father b. Wales. 

 

Sergeant David Richard Williams died November 6, 1880 in Memphis, Shelby, TN and is buried in Memphis National Cemetery, grave 13977.  

Arabella Foreman Williams died March 21, 1897, age 75, in Memphis and she is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, Shelby, TN.

 

 

Letter from D. R. Williams: Fort Defiance, March 17. 1861

My Dear Daughters

I now address a few lines according to promises when I left home as you are aware it was on the 24th of November last that I left St. Louis in the Gray’s Company A, First Regiment on the Southwest Expedition marched to Camp Boon at this place (which is 5 miles from the Kansas border and 300 miles from St. Louis) the Brigade received orders to return home and four companys were raised, one of Artillery and three of Calvary to protect the Border.  I joined the Artillery Capt. Jackson and served in this company until the 14th of Jan when on being Elected 2nd Lieutenant of the 3rd Company of Cavalry I was transferd to said Company and ordered to take post on the line dividing this State and the Now State of Kansass  the Company is Comanded by Capt. Stapels and we have erected a baracade and named it Fort Defiance.  We are now nearly through with the work which was much retarded by bad wether and the fatigue of Scouting along the Line every night-some times riding Thirty and forty miles between dark and daylight and then go to work on the fortifications so you see that the life of a Soldier is not all play and you can also imagin how very much time I have had to write to Mother and you after two months of such work.

            I hope that you both and Birdey have been good girls and Perry has been a good Boy since I Left Home that you have been to school and improved as fast as the circumstances under which you were placed this winter would permit.

            The Indians have not comenced to come to this post to trade yet and as we are prohibited to go to Kansass to trade with them I have been unable to buy Mocisens for you yet but I am informed by the residents heare that there will be plenty of them coming to sell their firs between this and the first of April next so I wish you to write as soon as you receive this and let me know how many inches long your feet is also your Mothers and Birdeys and I will try and get them to fit as I am afraid that I cannot do so without the measure.

            Tell your Mother that I wrote to her and Mr. Robinson on the 15th inst and I wish them to answer immediately.

To Miss Caroline P and Miss Emma A from their father.           D R. Williams

 

 submitted by Peggy Rhinerson

STEVENS, James Wharton (Biography)

Son of: James Charles Stevens (Jr.) and Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens. 

 

Brother of: William George Stevens, Charles “Charlie” Richard Stevens, Emma Stevens, and Charles George Stevens.

1858, June 25, James Wharton Stevens was born in Nashville, Davidson County, TN. 

 

 

 

1860 Census, Nashville, Davidson, TN, 8th Ward of Nashville, D-5-171 

  • James Charles Stevens, Jr. (34), machinist, b. England
  •   Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens (33), wife, b. TN
  •  James Wharton Stevens (2), b. TN
  •  William George Stevens (2/12), b. TN, April 1860 

 

1870 Census, Davidson County, TN, 8th Ward, D-443, (584/706) 

  • James Charles Stevens (Stephens), Jr. (43), railroad machinist, b. England 
  • Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens (Stephens) (40), wife, b. TN 
  • James Wharton Stevens (Stephens) (12), b. TN, attending school 
  • William “Willie” George Stevens (Stephens) (10), b. TN, attending school 
  • Charles Stevens (Stephens) (7), b. TN, attending school 
  • Emma Stevens (Stephens) (6), b. TN 
  • Charles George Stevens (Stephens) (2), b. TN 

 

Certificate: 1876, January 28, United States Inspectors Certificate to Engineers, No. 117. 

This is to certify that James W. Stevens has been duly examined by the undersigned Local Inspectors of Steamboats for the District of Nashville, Tenn. as to his qualifications as an Engineer of Steam Vessels and found to be a competent and reliable person to be entrusted with the powers and duties of Engineer of “Special Class” on the Towing St. H. L. Hall and boats of her ? and he is therefore hereby Licensed to act as such for the term of one year from this date. Given under our hand this Twenty eight (28) day of January 1876. Signed by Inspector of Boilers and Inspector of Hulls. (can not read names)  

Cards: “Memphis Temperance Pledge, January 1, 1877, with charity for all and malice toward none, I, the undersigned, DO PLEDGE, GOD HELPING ME, that I will forever abstain from the use of all Intoxicating Liquors as a beverage; and that I will, by all proper means, encourage others to abstain. Signed, James W. Stevens”. (also, have same card signed by Miss Emma A. Williams.

 

1879, February 23, James Wharton Stevens married Emma Ann Williams in Memphis, Shelby, TN by Thos. C. Holmes, Minister, M.E.Church, South. Marriage Bond was dated February 22, 1879, signed by James W. Stevens and Adolph R. Frey. Emma Ann Williams born Shaler Township, Allegheny County, PA, December 16, 1858 and died December 1, 1921, Chattanooga, TN. James Wharton Stevens was educated at Vanderbilt College, Nashville, TN. 

The children of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens were: 

  •  Emma Gertrude Stevens (Mrs. William S. Randolph, Sr.), b. January 7, 1880, Nashville, Davidson, TN, died September 17, 1957, Memphis, TN, buried Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN. 
  • Margaret Louise Stevens (Mrs. Robert Burgher Pirtle), b. August 15, 1882, Nashville, TN, died March 23, 1963, Memphis, TN, buried Memphis National Cemetery, side by side w/Robert Burgher Pirtle. 
  • Jimetta Stevens (Mrs. Eugene Johnson Bettis), b. July 7, 1884, Nashville, TN, died October 31, 1965, Memphis, TN, buried Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN. 
  • Arrabelle Stevens (Mrs. Tommy G. Tucker), b. November 20, 1887, Memphis, TN, died December 13, 1973, Memphis, TN, buried Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN 

 

1880 Census, Nashville, Davidson, TN, 10th District, E.D. 70, page 12 (133) 

  • James (Jos.) Charles Stevens, Jr. (55), machinist, b. England, parents b. England 
  • Amanda (A.M. Mrs.) Melvina Ashley Stevens (53), wife, b. TN, parents b. TN 
  • William George Stevens (20), son, apprentice, b. TN 
  • Charles George Stevens (11), son, b. TN 
  • James Wharton Stevens (22), son, machinist, b. TN 
  • Emma Ann Williams Stevens (24), wife of James Wharton Stevens, b. PA 
  • Emma Gertrude Stevens (5/12), their baby b. July 1879 in TN

 

1880, January 7, Nashville, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Emma Gertrude Stevens was born.

 

1882, August 15, Nashville, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Margaret Louise Stevens was born.

 

1884, July 7, Nashville, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Jimetta Stevens was born. 

 

1887, November 20, Memphis, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Arrabelle Stevens was born.

  

1910 Census, Memphis, Shelby, TN, E.D. 240, page 211: 

  • James Wharton Stevens (51), traveling salesman, mill supplies, b. TN, father b. England, mother, b. TN 
  • Emma Ann Williams Stevens (53), wife, b. PA, father b. Wales, mother b. NY 
  • Arrabelle Stevens (22), daughter, single, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. PA 
  • Charles George Stevens (42), brother of JWS, single, engineer fiber plant 
  • Robert Burgher Pirtle (29), son-in-law, salesman grocery store, b. TN, parents TN 
  • Margaret Louise Stevens Pirtle (27), daughter, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. PA 
  • Eva R Pirtle (7), stepdaughter, parents b. TN

 

1920 Census, Chattanooga, Hamilton, TN, E.D. 194, sheet # 21A, part of Ward 11 

  • Robert Burgher Pirtle (39), clerk, Southern Express, b. TN, parents b. TN 
  • Margaret Louise Stevens Pirtle (37), wife, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. PA 
  • Eva R Pirtle (17), b. TN, parents b. TN 
  • Emma Ann Williams Stevens (62), mother-in-law, b. PA, father b. Wales, mother b. PA 
  • James Wharton Stevens (62), father-in-law, traveling salesman, mill supplies, b. TN, father b. England, mother b. TN

 

1921, December 1, Emma Ann Williams Stevens died in Chattanooga, Hamilton, TN and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, Shelby, TN. 

1930, January 16, James Wharton Stevens died in Memphis, Shelby, TN at age 71 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN, Section 10, S ½, Lot 20, burial no. 8827, lot book 1, page 8, date of burial January 17, 1930. 

State of Tennessee, Certificate of Death, file # 3597, registered no. 154, filed January 17, 1930, J. W. Stevens, age 71, male, white, married (to Lula Stevens, 285 N. McLean), occupation-engineer, b. TN, father, James C. Stevens, b. England, mother, Amanda Ashley, b. England (s/b Nashville, TN). 

 

Obit for James Wharton Stevens: Stevens-At St. Joseph’s Hospital, Thursday afternoon, January 16, 1930 at 1:40 o’clock, James W. Stevens, husband of Lula Stevens, father of Mrs. W. M. (S.) Randolph, Mrs. E. J. Bettis, and Mrs. T. G. Tucker of this city and Mrs. R. B. Pirtle of Chattanooga, Tenn, brother of W. G. Stevens, aged 71 years. Funeral will take place from residence of daughter, Mrs. T. G. Tucker at 285 North McLean Boulevard, this (Friday) afternoon at 3:30 o’clock, services conducted by Rev. Geo. H. Martin. Interment in Forest Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Collins Funeral Home. 

 

1930, February, The International Engineer, Volume LVII, No. 2, page 158. 

Article from Local Union No. 92, Memphis, Tenn. “Bro. J. B. Barry announced the death of J. W. Stevens, brother-in-law to the Local’s business manager. Jim Stevens was conceded to be the best oil-mill Superintendent in the oil-mill district. He was educated at Vanderbilt College, Nashville, Tennessee. For twenty years he had traveled for the well-known mill-supply firm of Reed and Duecker of Memphis.”

Marriages Reported January 1, 1870

The following marriage certificates were returned to the office of the County Clerk since our last report, viz: 

  • Bernard DWYER and Miss Anne DOWLING
  • J.H. CULLEN and Mrs. Emma J. WHITSON
  • J.F. THOMAS and Miss C. REEVES
  • Dr. John A. WILLIAMS and Mrs. E.J. STICKNEY
  • Stevn McNIEL and Miss Bridget LEARY
  • Michael CONNELL JR. and Mrs. Lucy R. TAYLOR
  • George O’SULLIVAN and Mrs. Margaret MCMAHON
  • Dennis HARVEY and Miss Bridget KELLEY
  • C. JEROME and Miss Maria HANABURY
  • Chad CARMICHAEL and Mrs. Ann WINTERS
  • Dennis GALLAGHER and Miss Kate MCLEAN
  • one negro couple
Source: Memphis Daily Appeal, 1 Jan 1870, pg. 4. Available via ChroniclingAmerica.gov