WI BIO - Kenosha Co - WILLIAMS, Lewis C. 

History of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Chicago: S. C. 
Clarke Publishing, 1916, vol II, pp 666-668 

Lewis C. WILLIAMS, Section 29, Paris Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, was 
born 12 April 1866, son of Lewis and Margaret Ann (EVANS) WILLIAMS, natives 
of Radnorshire, Wales. Lewis C. was reared upon this farm, has always 
carried on general agricultural pursuits, and has kept abreast with changing 
conditions and improvements in methods of farm work.

The family was founded in the new world by Lewis WILLIAMS, the grandfather of 
Lewis C. WILLIAMS of this review, who on crossing the Atlantic, cast in his 
lot with the pioneer settlers of Kenosha County at a period when the work of 
development and progress had scarcely been begun in this locality. He [the 
grandfather] purchased eighty acres of land from the government, and upon the 
farm which he improved spent his remaining days, but from time to time 
extended its boundaries until he was enjoying the income from four hundred 
acres. He passed away at the age of eighty-four, while his wife, who bore 
the maiden name of Sarah MEREDITH, died in middle life.

Their son, Lewis WILLIAMS, became a shepherd in Wales and, when about 
nineteen years of age, accompanied his parents to the United States. 
Following his arrival in Kenosha County in 1843 [Kenosha County was then 
still part of Racine County, Territory of Wisconsin], he was for a time 
employed by John BULLEN of Kenosha, but he was very ambitious and resolved 
that his labors should more directly benefit himself. He therefore carefully 
saved his earnings until the sum amounted to over $100, at which time he 
walked to Milwaukee [where the nearest U. S. Land Office was located] and 
purchased eighty acres of land, and with each succeeding one hundred dollars 
which he earned, he made a similar investment. His first purchase was on 
Section 29, Paris Township, and from time to time he added to the property, 
while year by year he carried on the work of development and improvement. He 
died 27 October 1903 in the eighty-third year of his age, and his wife passed 
away 26 October 1875, at the age of thirty-five years. Realizing the lack of 
an education because of his own limited school privileges in youth, Mr. 
WILLIAMS was ever a strong advocate of the establishment of good schools in 
his community, and he provided his children with the best advantages possible.

In the maternal line Lewis C. WILLIAMS also comes of an old Welsh family. His 
maternal grandfather died in Wales when a young man, after which his widow, 
Mrs. Maria EVANS, came to America with her two daughters: (1) Maria, who is 
the widow of Charles DANE; and (2) Margaret Ann, who became Mrs. WILLIAMS. 
Following the establishment of her home in America, Mrs. EVANS became the 
wife of William JONES, by whom she had three children, all now deceased. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. JONES passed away at an advanced age.

As stated, their daughter, Margaret Ann, became the wife of Lewis WILLIAMS, 
the marriage being celebrated 04 June 1852. To them were born eight 
children: (1) Charley, who died at the age of twelve years; (2) Sarah, who 
was a high school student in Kenosha, and is now the wife of Gomer ROBERTS, 
living in Union Grove [Racine County, Wisconsin]; (3) Frank, who died at the 
age of eight years; (4) Julia, who died at the age of two years; (5) Belle, 
who attended the Kenosha High School and is the widow of Ernest MOE; (6) 
Lewis C.; (7) Nellie N., who was educated in the Brandon High School in 
Burlington, Vermont, and in Evanston [Cook County], Illinois, and for several 
years was a capable school teacher in this county prior to her marriage to F. 
W. KEUPER, a druggist of Union Grove [Racine County]; and (8) Margaret A., 
who after studying in the Northwestern University at Evanston [Cook County], 
pursued a course in the Conservatory at Evanston and is now the wife of 
William WALKER of Milwaukee.

Since the arrival of Lewis WILLIAMS, Sr., and his family in Kenosha County, 
representatives of the name have taken an active and helpful part in 
promoting the development of this section of the State, and Lewis WILLIAMS, 
the father of Lewis C. WILLIAMS, was very active in advancing the interests 
of the community along many lines. His political allegiance was given to the 
Democratic party, and he served as Supervisor of his township, but would not 
consent to hold public office, although for some time he was officially 
connected with the schools. Wherever he could give his aid to advance a 
cause for public good, however, his assistance was generous and hearty, and 
there was no one who rejoiced more sincerely in the welfare and progress of 
the county. Starting out in life on his own account by working at a salary 
of thirteen dollars per month, he advanced step by step until he was one of 
the largest landowners and most prosperous citizens of this part of the 
state, his realty interests aggregating 1,483 acres, while upon his farm he 
engaged in the cultivation not only of the cereals best adapted to the soil, 
but also engaged in raising fine herds of cattle, sheep and horses. In all 
of his business dealings he was thoroughly reliable as well as enterprising. 
He never took advantage of the interests of his fellowmen in any business 
transaction and among those who knew him his name became a synonym for 
business reliability.

As stated, it was always the object of Lewis WILLIAMS to give his children 
excellent educational privileges, and enjoying the advantages thus secured, 
Lewis C. WILLIAMS after attending the Brandon High School continued his 
studies in Ripon College [Ripon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin] and also 
became a student in the Law Department of the State University at Ann Arbor 
[Washtenaw County], Michigan. All of his life he has lived upon the old 
homestead where his father settled, and he is now the owner of 680 acres. He 
has made many improvements upon his land, erecting modern buildings and 
securing modern equipment and all of the accessories which facilitate farm 
work. He never falters in what he undertakes but carries everything forward 
to successful completion, possessing the characteristic energy, determination 
and integrity which have marked the WILLIAMS family.

On 11 May 1895 Mr. WILLIAMS married Miss Mary CRANE, a daughter of William 
and Ann (SPARKS) CRANE, who at the era of pioneer development in Racine 
County settled in Dover Township, where he carried on general agricultural 
pursuits until his death. He was long survived by his wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Caroline SPARKS and who reached the age of seventy-six years. 
Having lost her [p 668] first husband, Mrs. CRANE became the wife of Uriah 
RICHARDS of Lake County, Illinois.

William CRANE was born in Somersetshire, England, and had reached manhood and 
married before he crossed the Atlantic. William CRANE wedded Ann SPARKS, 
also a native of Somersetshire and a daughter of Richard and Sophia (LINHAM) 
SPARKS, who spent their entire lives in England. Her father [Richard 
SPARKS], who was a butcher by trade, passed away when well advanced in years. 
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. William CRANE crossed the Atlantic and 
established their home upon a farm of forty acres in Dover Township, Racine 
County, Wisconsin. Later, however, they crossed the line into Kenosha 
County, taking up their abode in Paris Township.

They [William and Ann (SPARKS) CRANE] became the parents of six children: 
(1) Sophia, the deceased wife of Benjamin MORRIS of Fargo [Cass County], 
North Dakota, her first husband having been T. R. MORRIS, a brother of her 
second husband; (2) Clifford T., deceased; (3) Charles, occupying the old 
homestead in Paris Township, Kenosha County]; (4) Caroline, the wife of 
Herbert BARNES of Fargo, North Dakota; (5) Mary, now Mrs. WILLIAMS; and (6) 
William, a farmer of Paris Township [Kenosha County]. Mr. and Mrs. CRANE 
were members of the Episcopal church when residents of England, but after 
coming to the new world joined the Methodist church, and they led earnest 
Christian lives, guided at all times by the highest religious principles. 
Their daughter Mary was the fifth in order of birth in their family of six 
children.

By her marriage she has become the mother of three sons and a daughter: (1) 
Willard Francis, (2) Judson Sparks, (3) Margaret Ann and (4) Lewis, the 
last named being a representative in the family of the fourth generation to 
bear the name of Lewis WILLIAMS. From the beginning of their residence in 
this county the WILLIAMS family have always been prominent socially, and the 
hospitality of the best homes has been freely extended them. Lewis C. 
WILLIAMS has conducted his life according to the teachings of his youth, and 
his integrity, enterprise and reliability stand as unquestioned facts in his 
career. Those who know him entertain for him the warmest regard, and his 
circle of friends is constantly growing as his circle of acquaintances 
increases. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly