H. D. Williams, firm of Williams & Carter, merchants, Oakland; born in New York City Feb. 10, 1846; he emigrated West with his parents when 9 years of age and located in Edgar Co., Ill., where he attended school and engaged in farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted as private in the 66th I. V. I., and was immediately sent to the front; he was first engaged in the battle of Corinth, Miss., where his regiment suffered severely, losing fully one-third of its men in killed and wounded; he then went to Danville, Miss., where he remained nearly one year, during which time they built a fine stockade; he then went to Pulaski, Tenn., where he was placed in the hospital on account of sickness, and was detailed as hospital druggist for two months, when he returned to his regiment and was in the Atlanta campaign, which was a series of battles from the beginning until the siege and capture of the above-named place; among the more important battles, the first was at Snake Creek Gap, May 9, 1864, when the 66th, being in the advance, fought their way for upward of eight miles; afterward were the battle of Lay’s Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and many others, arriving before Atlanta in July, where he remained during the siege, which lasted until September following; his next move was with Sherman in his march to the sea, where he arrived and spent the Christmas following in Savannah, Ga.; from there he marched north with the army, through South and North Carolina, fighting a large part of the way until reaching Morrisville Station, N. C., when Johnston surrendered, and his regiment, the 66th I. V. I., was the advance guard of Gen. Sherman when he went to receive the surrender of Johnston; he continued his march through to Washington, and after the review of the army, was mustered out June 28, 1865; he then returned to Oakland, where he has since lived the most of the time, either being in business for himself or as clerk for other firms; he engaged in his present business in 1876, which he has since successfully followed. He married, March 22, 1872, to Flora Troxell; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Nov. 19, 1854; they have one child by this union-Charles E., born July 4, 1874.
