IRA WILLIAMS. Now retired from business and looking after his real estate business in Anderson, Mr. Williams is a citizen of Madison County, who started out as a farmer, found himself against a losing game, then managed to turn, ventured into a new field in a very modest way and by furnishing exceptional value and service in return for his customer’s money, built up a local business which was highly profitable and from which he was able to retire a few years ago, and spend his later years in comfort, To his wife he also credits a large share of the success gained in his business.
Ira Williams, who belongs to an old and honored family of Madison County, was born on a farm in Richland Township, December 12, 1855. His father was Morgan T. Williams, who was born in Surrey County, North Carolina, and the grandfather was Jesse Williams, who so far as known was a life long resident of North Carolina, Grandfather Williams owned and occupied a farm about three miles from Long Gap in Surrey County, and that was his home when death came to him, He reared 14 children. Morgan T. Williams was reared and educated in his native state, and when a young man came to Indiana, and here met and married Marindah Maynard, After their marriage they located on the farm belonging to her father, and continued as substantial farming people until the death of Morgan T. Williams on June 27, 1863, at the age of twenty years.
The maternal ancestors of Mr. Williams introduces some of the 0ldest families of Madison County, His mother was born in Richland Township of Madison County, about April 19. 1839, Her father was James May- nard, and it is supposed that Kentucky was his birthplace. Her great- grandfather, William Maynard was a shoemaker by trade, and probably spent all his life in North Carolina, Moses Maynard, the grandfather of Mrs. Morgan T. Williams, was born near Hillsboro, North Carolina, September 23, 1763, was reared and married in that state, and from there went to Kentucky, living near the Big Sandy River for some years. From there he came into Indiana. and was one of the very first settlers of Madison County, On Killbuck Creek, he took up a homestead direct from the government, built a log cabin in the wilderness, and continued to live and perform his share of hard work and good citizenship in this County until his death. Moses Maynard died at the home of his son Barnabas in Monroe Township, June 15, 1874, at the remarkable age of one hundred and eleven years, He was the oldest man in the County and probably in the state, It is indeed doubtful if any American has a similar record. He cast a vote for George Washington for president, and voted at every presidential election in the long line of quadriennial elections from the first down to and including that of 1872, when Grant was elected for the second term, Moses Maynard married Sarah Green- street, and they reared eleven children.
James Maynard, the maternal grandfather of Ira Williams, was reared and married in Kentucky and came to Indiana, accompanied by his wife and children, about 1832. Their journey was made across enter his father’s tannery, where he assisted in the work for a time, but did not chose to follow that as a regular vocation, and soon engaged in the mercantile business, He continued that work until he sold out.’ From merchant he became carpenter and builder, and having special skill in his trade and good business ability, he has since enjoyed much prosperity and has been employed in fulfilling many contracts for residences, school houses, churches and business houses in Anderson and elsewhere.
In 1900 Mr. Rozelle married Miss Zimmer, a daughter of Michael Zimmer, an old resident of Madison County. She died in 1903, and was the mother of the following named children: Charles B. and Helen E. Fraternally Mr. Rozelle is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Fellowship Lodge, No, 681, A. F. & A. M.; Anderson Chapter, No, 52, R. A. M.; Anderson Commandery, No, 69, K. T., and Murat Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and has also taken thirty-two degrees in the Scottish Rite, In politics a Republican, he served three years as a member of the city council, and was also chosen and acted as a member of the board of public works, from which he resigned at the end of one year.