Clarence L. Williams is an enterprising farmer of Philo Township and is now living in section 25, on the land where he was born August 7, 1875.
The family is an old and prominent one of Champaign County. His parents were Elias and Hannah (Peterson) Williams. Both were born in Franklin County, Indiana. Elias Williams came to Illinois in early manhood and located in Champaign County during the early ’60s. His first possessions here were eighty acres and he subsequently added another eighty acres and had the farm well improved and under profitable operation long before his death, which occurred June 19, 1914. His widow died May 22, 1917, at Philo. Their three children are: Clark E., of Bluffton, Indiana; Ella M., at home; and Clarence L.
Clarence L. Williams grew up on the homestead, attended the district schools, and at the age of nineteen began his independent career by renting a home place of eighty acres. He has since bought the entire farm of 160 acres and has it under splendid control. Mr. Williams is a Republican in politics. His interest in local schools is indicated by the fact that for the past fifteen years he has served as director of his home district. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
He married Catherine Churchill, who was born in New York State. Their four children, all at home, are Nellie, Roy, Dorothea and Karl.