BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
A Standard History of
THE HANGING ROCK IRON REGION OF OHIO
An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with the Extended
Survey of the Industrial and Commercial Development
Vol. II
ILLUSTRATED
Publishers - The Lewis Publishing Company
1916

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DANIEL WEBSTER WILLIAMS.  As editor of that portion of the "History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region" pertaining to Jackson County, the publishers desire herewith to present a brief sketch of the career of Daniel Webster Williams, whose many years spent in Jackson County have been accompanied with valuable service as newspaper man, author, and a leader in public affairs.      George David Williams, grandfather of the Jackson editor, was born Feb. 11, 1785, and died Dec. 30, 1871.  He was the founder of the Williams name is Southern Ohio.  He was a freeholder at Lledrod, Wales, and in 1839 emigrated to America and settled on a farm in Greenfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio.  There he assisted to organize Sardis Church, Calvinistic Methodist.  He married Hannah Lewis of Aberaeron, Wales, a descendant of a Huguenot who had tied from France in a coasting vessel at the time of the St. Bartholomew massacre, and settled in Wales.  Hannah Lewis died March 22, 1870.      Benjamin G. Williams, father of Daniel W., was born in Wales, emigrated with his parents and spent the rest of his life in Ohio.  He was a fanner, first in Gallia County, and then near Banner, in Jackson County.  He was born March 2, 1821, and died Jan. 8, 1912.  By two wives he was the father of seventeen children.  His second wife, the mother of Daniel W., was Margaret Evans, who was born in Jackson County, Ohio, Mar. 18, 1839, and died February 9, 1908.      Daniel W. Williams was educated in the common schools and in the Ohio University, leaving college in his junior year.  After some experience in other lines he took up newspaper work July 15, 1889, and that has been his vocation ever since, except during the period from April, 1905, to June, 1907, when he served as consul at Cardiff, Wales.  As consul he wrote many exhaustive reports to the American Government.  He resigned that post in the consular service to return home and care for his mother during her last days.  Mr. Williams was given the honorary degree of A. M. by Ohio University in 1904.  Besides his contributions to the current newspapers, Mr. Williams is author of a history of Scioto Salt Licks in Jackson County; and edits the Standard Journal, a weekly regarded as a unique contribution to journalistic technic.  His "Day by Day" notes on varied subjects, politics, personalities, philosophy, humor, etc., have been widely quoted.      On the republican ticket Mr. Williams was elected in 1908 as senator from the Seventh Ohio District, and served one term. In that time he was chairman of the committee on mines, and introduced the present milling code for Ohio. He was also chairman of the Ohio food probe committee of 1910, the first to publish a report on that subject in this country.  In 1914 Mr. Williams was candidate on the progressive ticket for lieutenant governor of Ohio.  He has long been active in the Presbyterian Church, having served as elder, Sunday school superintendent, trustee and in other relations with his home church, and as president of the Jackson County Sunday School Association several terms.  In college Mr. Williams was a Delta Tau Delta, and is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men.  In his home community he has performed a number of civic services, and was a library trustee of Jackson.      Jan. 6, 1887, Mr. Williams married Sarah Marshall Ames at Macon, Mississippi.  Mrs. Williams is of a notable Southern family.  She received her education at Macon, Mississippi, and in the Ohio University.  Her parents were Charles Bingley and Sarah Jane (Longstreet) Ames.  Her ancestor, Sylvanus Ames, died while with the American army at Valley Forge.  Her father was a soldier in the Confederate army, and held many positions of honor in Noxubee County, Mississippi, including those of probate judge, superintendent of education, etc.  Mrs. Williams' mother was the youngest sister of Gen. James Longstreet, one of the ablest leaders of the Confederacy.  Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, two, Maude and Chilton, died in infancy.  Ben Ames Williams, who was born at Macon, Mississippi, March 7, 1889, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1910, and since that year has been employed on the Boston American, and on Sept. 4, 1912, at York Harbor, Maine, married Florence Talpy; Helen Ames Williams, born at Jackson, Ohio, July 20, 1893, was graduated at Glendale College, Ohio, in 1913. Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Page 796