Chester A. Williams. In calling attention to the men of worth in Newcomb Township, Champaign County, Chester A. Williams should hold a foremost place. He is one of the substantial men of his section, a first-class farmer and an intelligent, stable and useful citizen. He was born in Champaign County, Illinois, November 17, 1880, and is a son of Lucius and Mary C. (Shafer) Williams. He has one older brother, James A. Williams, who resides just east of his brother Chester A. He married Maggie Shafer, and they have four children.
Lucius Williams was born in 1835 in Licking County, Ohio, and died on his farm in Newcomb Township, Champaign County, April 6, 1916. He came from Ohio to Champaign County about 1868 and spent the rest of his life here, following farming as his occupation and acquiring eighty acres of land in Newcomb Township as a result of his industry. In politics he was a Republican, but took no active part in political campaigns and never aspired to public office. He was well known and highly respected. His burial was in Shiloh Cemetery and a stone marks his last resting place. He is survived by his widow, who was born in Ohio seventy-five years ago. She resides with her children and has a wide circle of personal friends.
Chester A. Williams was educated in the public schools and from early manhood has been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. With his brother James A. he owns 100 acres of fine land very favorably situated in Newcomb Township, which, under intelligent management, has become some of the most productive land in this section.
Mr. Williams married on March 22, 1915, Miss Sadie Wright, who was born in Newcomb Township, August 28, 1886, and is a daughter of Charles and Nancy (Hannah) Wright. Mrs. Williams is one of a family of fourteen children and the youngest of the three who live in Champaign County, the other two being: Hiram, who is a farmer in Newcomb Township, married Effie Lester and they have six children; and Arthur, who is also a farmer in this township, married Minnie McCay and they have six children. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one son, Arthur Williams.
Charles Wright, father of Mrs. Williams, was born in Licking County, Ohio, September 30, 1840, and died in Champaign County in 1892. During the Civil War he served as a member of the Ohio State Militia. He was married in Ohio to Nancy Hannah, who was born in that State and died in Newcomb Township July 20, 1911, and both rest in Shiloh Cemetery. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were highly respected by all who knew them. They came to Champaign County when Mrs. Williams was a child of six years and she grew up on her father’s farm, under the watchful care of a wise and loving mother.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Williams began housekeeping on the old Williams homestead and here have remained in the enjoyment of the plenty and comfort that good management and frugality are apt to bring to the modern farmer’s household. Mr. Williams is an intelligent, practical agriculturist, keeping thoroughly abreast of the times in all that pertains to farm industries and has reason to be proud of a property that every year is increasing in value because of his excellent methods. Mr. and Mrs. Williams attend the Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are liberal supporters, and took part in the dedication of the new church edifice in May, 1917. In politics he is a Republican and follows party policy closely in national campaigns, but he is somewhat independent in township elections and very often casts his vote for candidates who, in his opinion, will serve the people most efficiently and economically. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have a wide circle of friends, to whom their hospitable home is ever open.