James, who was often known by his middle name Wesley or "Wess", was the son of Roley Williams and Sarah Ann Dickerson. His name honored his mother's brothers, James and Wesley Dickerson who were both living when he was born.
James Wesley Williams was born in LeRoy, Illinois on November 21, 1861. According to census records, his father Roley, was a farmer and carpenter in central Illinois and his grandfather, Arron, was also a farmer in Illinois. Wesley had 9 siblings. Census records indicate when James was 9, his family was living in Empire Township, McLean County, Illinois with a post office of LeRoy. When he was 20, census records show that the family lived in Carle Township in Dewitt County, Illinois.
James Wesley Williams and his wife Maude Kansas Williams were married in Logan, Illinois on January 27th, 1887 when he was 25 and she was almost 16 and they raised a family of 5 children. The eldest being Pearl (1889) born 2 1/2 years after their union and followed by Elmer "EL" (1891) Clarence "C.A." (1894), Florence "Floss"(1897) and Wilbur "Wills" (1908). Early on (1900 and earlier), they lived in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois where James worked for a local merchant selling boots and shoes. They may have made a trip to California (James' brother Robert lived there), but then returned to Galesburg, Illinois where they continued living until their deaths. The 1910 census also had their nephew Lawrence (born 1894 in California and residing there in 1900) living with them. Lawrence later returned to California.
By the 1930 census James Wesley Williams had become an upholsterer and owned his furniture repair business where he worked "on his own account," meaning he was not an employee or employer. Earlier census records show he worked as a clerk and furniture salesman working at Doyle Furniture in Galesburg in 1910 and in later years he advanced to the skilled trade and craft of upholstery, perhaps influenced by his father's experience in carpentry. Census records and city directories showed the family lived in Galesburg, Illinois at 1381 North Cedar Street and James' upholstery business was at the same location. Currently (2022) the lot sits empty, but is well maintained, partially fenced, and appears to be attached to adjacent residential property. They also previously lived at 669 Cedar Street in a large 2 story home where his youngest son, Wilbur, was born in 1908. A year later they moved to 1381 N. Cedar Street.
James Wesley Williams died November 17, 1939 in Galesburg. His wife Maude lived another 19 years, passing on, to join him once again, in 1958. Both James and Maud are buried at the Memorial Cemetery in Galesburg. Additional family related to James Welsley Williams and his wife are also buried in the central Illinois area.
His grandson, James Samuel Williams "Jim" was named after him and certainly remembered him, being age 17 when his grandfather and namesake died. The name James is also carried by his great grandson today (Jim's son), and the name, Jamie, is carried forward to yet another generation in his great great granddaughter (Jim's youngest daughter's daughter).
As to why Maud married at a young age, we should remember, she was an only child when her mother died when she was 7. Her father, William McMahan, a farmer, remarried 3 years later and had 4 more children. All family photos from her married life reflect that she was well cared for and loved into her old age by her grown children.
This biographical sketch was compiled from information found in census records, city directories, family photo albums, and on cemetery headstones by Carolyn Williams, great granddaughter of James Wesley Williams.
James Wesley Williams was born in LeRoy, Illinois on November 21, 1861. According to census records, his father Roley, was a farmer and carpenter in central Illinois and his grandfather, Arron, was also a farmer in Illinois. Wesley had 9 siblings. Census records indicate when James was 9, his family was living in Empire Township, McLean County, Illinois with a post office of LeRoy. When he was 20, census records show that the family lived in Carle Township in Dewitt County, Illinois.
James Wesley Williams and his wife Maude Kansas Williams were married in Logan, Illinois on January 27th, 1887 when he was 25 and she was almost 16 and they raised a family of 5 children. The eldest being Pearl (1889) born 2 1/2 years after their union and followed by Elmer "EL" (1891) Clarence "C.A." (1894), Florence "Floss"(1897) and Wilbur "Wills" (1908). Early on (1900 and earlier), they lived in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois where James worked for a local merchant selling boots and shoes. They may have made a trip to California (James' brother Robert lived there), but then returned to Galesburg, Illinois where they continued living until their deaths. The 1910 census also had their nephew Lawrence (born 1894 in California and residing there in 1900) living with them. Lawrence later returned to California.
By the 1930 census James Wesley Williams had become an upholsterer and owned his furniture repair business where he worked "on his own account," meaning he was not an employee or employer. Earlier census records show he worked as a clerk and furniture salesman working at Doyle Furniture in Galesburg in 1910 and in later years he advanced to the skilled trade and craft of upholstery, perhaps influenced by his father's experience in carpentry. Census records and city directories showed the family lived in Galesburg, Illinois at 1381 North Cedar Street and James' upholstery business was at the same location. Currently (2022) the lot sits empty, but is well maintained, partially fenced, and appears to be attached to adjacent residential property. They also previously lived at 669 Cedar Street in a large 2 story home where his youngest son, Wilbur, was born in 1908. A year later they moved to 1381 N. Cedar Street.
James Wesley Williams died November 17, 1939 in Galesburg. His wife Maude lived another 19 years, passing on, to join him once again, in 1958. Both James and Maud are buried at the Memorial Cemetery in Galesburg. Additional family related to James Welsley Williams and his wife are also buried in the central Illinois area.
His grandson, James Samuel Williams "Jim" was named after him and certainly remembered him, being age 17 when his grandfather and namesake died. The name James is also carried by his great grandson today (Jim's son), and the name, Jamie, is carried forward to yet another generation in his great great granddaughter (Jim's youngest daughter's daughter).
As to why Maud married at a young age, we should remember, she was an only child when her mother died when she was 7. Her father, William McMahan, a farmer, remarried 3 years later and had 4 more children. All family photos from her married life reflect that she was well cared for and loved into her old age by her grown children.
This biographical sketch was compiled from information found in census records, city directories, family photo albums, and on cemetery headstones by Carolyn Williams, great granddaughter of James Wesley Williams.
James, who was often known by his middle name Wesley or "Wess", was the son of Roley Williams and Sarah Ann Dickerson. His name honored his mother's brothers, James and Wesley Dickerson who were both living when he was born.
James Wesley Williams was born in LeRoy, Illinois on November 21, 1861. According to census records, his father Roley, was a farmer and carpenter in central Illinois and his grandfather, Arron, was also a farmer in Illinois. Wesley had 9 siblings. Census records indicate when James was 9, his family was living in Empire Township, McLean County, Illinois with a post office of LeRoy. When he was 20, census records show that the family lived in Carle Township in Dewitt County, Illinois.
James Wesley Williams and his wife Maude Kansas Williams were married in Logan, Illinois on January 27th, 1887 when he was 25 and she was almost 16 and they raised a family of 5 children. The eldest being Pearl (1889) born 2 1/2 years after their union and followed by Elmer "EL" (1891) Clarence "C.A." (1894), Florence "Floss"(1897) and Wilbur "Wills" (1908). Early on (1900 and earlier), they lived in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois where James worked for a local merchant selling boots and shoes. They may have made a trip to California (James' brother Robert lived there), but then returned to Galesburg, Illinois where they continued living until their deaths. The 1910 census also had their nephew Lawrence (born 1894 in California and residing there in 1900) living with them. Lawrence later returned to California.
By the 1930 census James Wesley Williams had become an upholsterer and owned his furniture repair business where he worked "on his own account," meaning he was not an employee or employer. Earlier census records show he worked as a clerk and furniture salesman working at Doyle Furniture in Galesburg in 1910 and in later years he advanced to the skilled trade and craft of upholstery, perhaps influenced by his father's experience in carpentry. Census records and city directories showed the family lived in Galesburg, Illinois at 1381 North Cedar Street and James' upholstery business was at the same location. Currently (2022) the lot sits empty, but is well maintained, partially fenced, and appears to be attached to adjacent residential property. They also previously lived at 669 Cedar Street in a large 2 story home where his youngest son, Wilbur, was born in 1908. A year later they moved to 1381 N. Cedar Street.
James Wesley Williams died November 17, 1939 in Galesburg. His wife Maude lived another 19 years, passing on, to join him once again, in 1958. Both James and Maud are buried at the Memorial Cemetery in Galesburg. Additional family related to James Welsley Williams and his wife are also buried in the central Illinois area.
His grandson, James Samuel Williams "Jim" was named after him and certainly remembered him, being age 17 when his grandfather and namesake died. The name James is also carried by his great grandson today (Jim's son), and the name, Jamie, is carried forward to yet another generation in his great great granddaughter (Jim's youngest daughter's daughter).
As to why Maud married at a young age, we should remember, she was an only child when her mother died when she was 7. Her father, William McMahan, a farmer, remarried 3 years later and had 4 more children. All family photos from her married life reflect that she was well cared for and loved into her old age by her grown children.
This biographical sketch was compiled from information found in census records, city directories, family photo albums, and on cemetery headstones by Carolyn Williams, great granddaughter of James Wesley Williams.
James Wesley Williams was born in LeRoy, Illinois on November 21, 1861. According to census records, his father Roley, was a farmer and carpenter in central Illinois and his grandfather, Arron, was also a farmer in Illinois. Wesley had 9 siblings. Census records indicate when James was 9, his family was living in Empire Township, McLean County, Illinois with a post office of LeRoy. When he was 20, census records show that the family lived in Carle Township in Dewitt County, Illinois.
James Wesley Williams and his wife Maude Kansas Williams were married in Logan, Illinois on January 27th, 1887 when he was 25 and she was almost 16 and they raised a family of 5 children. The eldest being Pearl (1889) born 2 1/2 years after their union and followed by Elmer "EL" (1891) Clarence "C.A." (1894), Florence "Floss"(1897) and Wilbur "Wills" (1908). Early on (1900 and earlier), they lived in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois where James worked for a local merchant selling boots and shoes. They may have made a trip to California (James' brother Robert lived there), but then returned to Galesburg, Illinois where they continued living until their deaths. The 1910 census also had their nephew Lawrence (born 1894 in California and residing there in 1900) living with them. Lawrence later returned to California.
By the 1930 census James Wesley Williams had become an upholsterer and owned his furniture repair business where he worked "on his own account," meaning he was not an employee or employer. Earlier census records show he worked as a clerk and furniture salesman working at Doyle Furniture in Galesburg in 1910 and in later years he advanced to the skilled trade and craft of upholstery, perhaps influenced by his father's experience in carpentry. Census records and city directories showed the family lived in Galesburg, Illinois at 1381 North Cedar Street and James' upholstery business was at the same location. Currently (2022) the lot sits empty, but is well maintained, partially fenced, and appears to be attached to adjacent residential property. They also previously lived at 669 Cedar Street in a large 2 story home where his youngest son, Wilbur, was born in 1908. A year later they moved to 1381 N. Cedar Street.
James Wesley Williams died November 17, 1939 in Galesburg. His wife Maude lived another 19 years, passing on, to join him once again, in 1958. Both James and Maud are buried at the Memorial Cemetery in Galesburg. Additional family related to James Welsley Williams and his wife are also buried in the central Illinois area.
His grandson, James Samuel Williams "Jim" was named after him and certainly remembered him, being age 17 when his grandfather and namesake died. The name James is also carried by his great grandson today (Jim's son), and the name, Jamie, is carried forward to yet another generation in his great great granddaughter (Jim's youngest daughter's daughter).
As to why Maud married at a young age, we should remember, she was an only child when her mother died when she was 7. Her father, William McMahan, a farmer, remarried 3 years later and had 4 more children. All family photos from her married life reflect that she was well cared for and loved into her old age by her grown children.
This biographical sketch was compiled from information found in census records, city directories, family photo albums, and on cemetery headstones by Carolyn Williams, great granddaughter of James Wesley Williams.
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