|
Edward Heath Williams is the wife of Maude Dunn and a son of James Horn Williams and Juliette Marion (Nellie) Heath. He is my maternal grandmother's father.
|
Based on the age of the children, this picture was taken about 1895.
|
Born: 4/23/1859 Osceola, AR
Died: 11/15/1901 Jonesboro, AR
Buried:
Married: Maude Dunn 17 Mar, 1885 Pensacola,
FL
Born: 2 Nov, 1865 Quebec, Canada
Died: 29 Jun, 1918 Muncie, IN
According to the records of my maternal grandmother Mama Nelle Williams Holthouse.
Click on this link to go to the Maude Dunn web page on the Dunn Family web site.
|
Edward Heath and Maude Williams raised three children:
1. Edward James Williams (oldest in photo above), born 12/15/1885 Luxora, AR Died 1962 in Roswell, NM Married 23 Jan, 1906 Jonesboro, AR to Charlotte Harris who was born 24 Aug,
1884 in Olive Branch, MS They had four children: Edward Heath Williams Born 3 May, 1907 Roswell, NM Dorthy Mae Williams Born May 19, 1910 Roswell, NM Nelle Jean Williams Born 4 Jan, 1914 Roswell, NM Mary Charlotte Williams Born 22 June, 1921 Roswell, NM
2. Frank Dunn Williams (youngest in photo above), born 8/16/1894 Luxora, AR Died 8/17/1944 Married 5 Feb, 1917 Jonesboro, AR to Lenita M. Mason who was born 16 July,
1896 in Portia, AR and died Sep 1976 in Jonesboro, AR They had five children: Phyllis Jean Williams Born 30 May, 1918 Jonesboro, AR Frank Dunn Williams, Jr. Born 27 Dec, 1919 Jonesboro, AR Died 24 Aug 1947 USMC Air Station, Cherry Point, NC Martha Ann Williams Born 1923, Jonesboro,
AR Joyce Williams Born 1925, Jonesboro,
AR Juanita Williams Born 1928, Jonesboro,
AR
 |
|
|
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas
page 567
Edward H. Williams. He whose name heads this brief sketch is one of Mississippi County's most active and
enterprising business men, alive to all current topics, and public-spirited and progressive in all matters tending to benefit
the community.
He was born near Elmot, in 1859, his parents being James H. and Nellie Heath) Williams [for whose history
see sketch of James H. Williams]. As Edward grew toward youth and [p.567] early manhood he attended school in the neighborhood
of his home, and worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he engaged as a clerk
for A. Goodrich of Osceola, with whom he remained one year.
After renting and tilling his father's farm for two years, he started from home with the intention of going
to Florida, but stopped in Alabama, and attended school at Florence for some six months, after which he concluded that his
native State was good enough to suit him, so he returned and went into business with D. T. Waller, which partnership was dissolved
at the end of twenty months, Mr. Waller purchasing his interest.
He then bought out N. W. Goodrich, and for two years was associated with A. Goodrich. purchasing his partner's
interest at the end of that time; he has conducted affairs in a very satisfactory manner, proving himself to be a man of rare
business ability and efficiency. He keeps an excellent assortment of general merchandise, his stock being valued at about
$4,000, and has won the reputation of being one of the first business men in Mississippi County.
He is enterprising and energetic, studying largely the interests of the people, and fully justifies the
confidence and esteem which are bestowed upon him. In connection with his mercantile interests he is managing his father's
farm, growing cotton, and has been postmaster at Elmot since May, 1885.
His estimable wife was formerly Miss Maude Dunn, of Pensacola, Fla., to whom he was married on the 17th
of March, 1885, and by her he has one child, Edward James. Mrs. Williams is connected with the Catholic Church.
Elmot is a postoffice five miles above Osceola, in Fletcher Township. It is
the outlet for an excellent country, which is being rapidly improved and settled. The Government has been making extensive
improvement along the river from and in the channel below, and this has given Elmot a rapid rise. The open land in this section
is a continuation of the Osceola settlement, extending along the river in unbroken fields of the choicest land for nearly
ten miles. Within a short distance on the river front are three stores and several landings, which have local names. Ed. Williams,
proprietor of a general store, is also postmaster of Elmot.
|
|
|
|
The following two letters were given to me by my Mother who got them from her Mother, the daughter
of Ed Williams.
|
|
Manila Ark.
7/9, 1901
My darling wife,
I got here 4:30 yesterday eve. Am feeling rather blue over failure of
my crop. I have been all over it this morn and will say I am blue over it and
doubt it will make a crop unless it rains some more. Cotton needing rain also. No news. I will be giving more time this
week. Can’t say when I will get home, likely any time.
Love to all. Am so blue I am sorry
I couldn’t deliver with a lot of land and money to get set.
I am, your Hubby,
Ed H. Williams
Unfortunately, have all AM.
I heard (illegible) would like to cook for us. Do not. Hire Amy (Illegible)
for a day or so. She may go over tomorrow.
Can’t say. Loving, Ed
|
Click to download and view the original letter in Acrobat Viewer
|
Manila Ark.
Oct 22, 1901
My darling wife,
I am still
alive this morning. I got up and ate breakfast before sunup. Yes, a little after daylight. Another go
every time. Am now in town. I
am feeling fully as well or a little better than when I left home. No news
here. I will try and put in a good week picking cotton. Only got out 3 bales last week. I will try and do better this
week. No news. All well
at farm (illegible) but some of hands are sick. I love hearing from you. Love to all and lots to my wife mixed with kisses. I am yours, Ed H. Williams
|
Click to download and view the original letter in Acrobat Viewer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elmot and Osceola, both in Mississippi County AR, are on the Mississippi River. Below is a picture of the River
in that period.
The Mississippi River circa 1906 "Steamboat
landing at Vicksburg. Sternwheeler Belle of Calhoun and sidewheeler Belle of the Bends." Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. The
Belle of Calhoun was a 181-foot sternwheeler built at Carondelet, Illinois, in 1895. Named for Miss Anna Wood, who was crowned
the Belle of Calhoun County, Illinois. Sank three times in her career, finally burned at Alton in the winter of 1930-1931. Belle
of the Bends was a 210-foot sidewheeler. Built in 1898 at the Howard Yard in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Converted to an excursion
boat at Cairo and renamed Liberty circa 1918. Dismantled in October 1919.
|
|
|
|
Marriage of Ed Heath Williams to Maude Dunn 3/17/1885
|
 <
|
The wedding was held at the residence of Mr. and Mr. E. T. Dunn, North Palafox Street (Pensacola FL) with Rev.
Father Tobin officiating.
The attendants were Frank Maura with Clara Dunn, sister of the bride and W. H. Knowles with
Lena Williams, sister of the groom. Following the service and the reception the couple left for Elmot, AR which was to be
their home.
|
Edward Heath Williams Obituaries
Edward Heath Williams,
born April 23, 1859, died Nov. 15, 1901,
Osceola, Ark. He attended the local
schools and worked on his father’s farm.
At age 21 he became
a clerk for A. Goodrich of Osceola where he
remained for one year. After renting and tilling his fathers land for two years
he left home with the intention of going to Florida, but stopped in Alabama,
and attended school in Florence for about 6 months. He then concluded that his
native state was
good enough for him and he returned home.
While traveling for
his health he met a young lady who was on her
way home after attending "finishing school" in Alabama - they met on
a train. Edward was attracted to her and
pursued her. Her father hired an agency in Memphis to investigate Edward's
background before he allowed a courtship.
Evidently the father was pleased with his findings and the young lady willing
to become Mrs. Edward Heath Williams as they became man and wife.
Maud Dunn Williams was born
Nov. 2, 1865 in Quebec, Canada. She died
in Muncie, Ind. June 29, 1918. Her home
when they met was in Pensacola, Fla.
They were married Mar. 17, 1885.
They were the parents of Nelle Williams born Oct. 29, 1891, married
B.G.Holthouse . She died in
Lawrenceburg, Tn. Oct. 13, 1973. She was
born in Luxora, Ark.
After their return
to Arkansas he went into business with
D.T.Waller. After about 20 months he
sold his interest to Mr. Waller . He
then bought out Mr. Goodrich for whom he had worked earlier. In connection with
his mercantile business he
managed his fathers farm, growing cotton and was postmaster at Elmot, Ark. Mrs.
Williams was a member of the Catholic
church.
Edward was the son of James H. Williams who had been sent to Arkansas by his father in Nashville, TN to manage his farms, along with his wife and young daughter.
He led a long and successful life in Luxora, AR just outside of Osceola on the Mississippi river.
Ed prospered
as a farmer and merchant in Luxora and Osceola, AR and was one of Mississippi county's largest land owners at the time of
his death.
He moved to Jonesboro, AR in 1900 and was in the insurance business there. In 1901, at 42 years of age,
he died at home on Washington Street following nearly a month of fever and typhoid pneumonia. (He
contracted pneumonia following a trip on horseback where he was caught in a rainstorm while looking after one of his farms
according to family oral history).
He was buried in the Jonesboro city cemetery on Sunday afternoon following
the funeral at the Methodist Church.
Relatives attending the funeral included: His brothers, Will Williams of Mariana,
AR, and Henry Williams of Birmingham, AL. Henry is Ed's uncle, Henry Philips Williams who owned a large farm in Guthrie KY and lived for awhile in Birmingham AL.
Cousin, Elliott Williams of Luxora, AR
is the son of John W. Williams. John is the son of Williams Williams (brother of Ed's father James H. Williams).
He had graduated at the Nashville University in 1841, surveyed land in Texas several years, read law, married Martha
(youngest daughter of Graves Pennington of Davidson County TN) and then purchased a farm in Mississippi County AR. When
his wife died he married Anna, eldest daughter of Col. Elliot Fletcher of AR. They had three children, Susan, Sally
and Elliot.
Mesdames A. G. Cartwright and W. B. Calhoun, sisters of Mr. Williams.
Frank Dunn of Pensacola,
FL, brother of Mrs. Williams.
Ed Williams died without a will as evidenced by the document below, perhaps because he died young and unexpectedly. The
below document shows his wife being appointed to handle the disposition of his worldly goods. There are additional records
of how the probate was administered in the Craighead County Court records in Book D, pages 5, 7, 9, 11, 32, 35, 75, 102, 161,
168, 549, and 574.
For whatever reason that Ed Heath Williams died without a will, his wife Nelle was required to post a bond to handle
his probate.
The below Probate records are available on Ancestry.com and are microfilm copies of the records as they
appear in the Craighead County Arkansas County Court Records.
Ed H Williams Probate Records by Larry Feldhaus
on Scribd
|
|
The tin plate at the left was in the possessions of my Grandmother, Moma Nelle Williams Holthouse. I believe the
picture may be of her parents, Edward Williams and his wife Maude Dunn about the time they were married in 1885. The
older women may be Maude Dunn's grandmother. She appears to be too old to be her mother.
|
| |
|
|
