City: Benton
WILLIAMS, John Lafayette, surveyor and timber estimator; born Polk Co., Tenn. Dec. 19, 1876; Welsh, Scotch, Irish descent; sone of A.J. and Sarah C. (Rymer) WILLIAMS; his father is a farmer and present Clerk and Master of Chancery at Benton; paternal grandfather John WILLIAMS, paternal grandmother Nancy (Harbison) WILLIAMS; maternal grandfather Leroy RYMER, maternal grandmother Elizabeth (Runyons) RYMER; educated common schools of Benton and Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.; began business career teaching school, in which he engaged from 1896 to 1900; married Velma GREEN, Nov. 13, 1903; member of F. and A.M. (Seniro Deacon 1902, Junior Warden 1903); Democrat, was County Surveyor Polk Co. from 1898 to 1907; is now Surveyor for Wetmore estate (30,000 acres) in Polk Co.; is also Surveyor for Prendergast Co. (55,000 acres) and was with Ocoee Timber Co. (60,000 acres) from 1903 to 1908; member of Missionary Baptist church.
