- WESLEY B. WILLIAMS. The average Wisconsin farmer, be he enterprising and energetic, is usually loath to transfer the control of his operations to other hands, even when he has reached an age that men in other lines of industry would consider advanced years, but when he finally does relinquish his hold on active labor and retires to his residence in the city, he makes one of the substantial, solid citizens of his new community, and as such is a welcome addition. Wesley B. Williams, a highly esteemed retired farmer of Bovina township, now living in Shiocton, Wisconsin, was born June 16, 1841, in Freedom, Portage county, Ohio, a son of Thomas G. and Eunice P. (Clark) Williams, natives of Ohio, in which state the mother died, the father coming to Wisconsin about 1868 and dying in Outagamie county. Wesley B. Williams secured his education in the public schools of Ohio, and attended Hiram College for three years, being a warm friend of its president, James A. Garfield, who was later to become president of the United States. He graduated from college at the age of twenty years and came west to Wisconsin, having stopped a short time in Illinois prior to locating at Eureka, Winnebago county. He became head sawyer in a sawmill at that place, where he rermained for several years, and then engaged in the lumber business, but eventually engaged in farming, purchasing eighty acres, on which was erected the first basement barn to be built in this community. Mr. Williams continued to farm with great success until 1907, when he retired, at this time being the owner of 800 acres of fine land in Bovina township. Since his retirement Mr. Williams has been living in Shiocton. On July 4, 1864, Mr. Williams was married to Caroline D. Tyler, who was born October 28, 1842, daughter of Nelson and Lydia (Sherman) Tyler, natives of New York State, who came to Wisconsin in 1859 and settled in Outagamie county, where both died. Mr. Tyler was an agriculturist all of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams there were born seven children: Jennie P., who married A. J. Francis and died July 4, 1898, leaving no children; Wesley B., Jr., who married Lettie Van Alstine, has two children; two children who died in infancy; Earl J., who married Edith Kranzusch, has one child; Norman G.; and Maude E., who married Alvin Krause, of New London. Mr. Williams is a member of the Masonic order, and his political belief is that of the Republican party. Norman G. Williams received his education in the public schools of Shiocton and graduated from the Oshkosh State Normal school in 1898, after which he spent a year in Seattle, Washington, where for about six months he was engaged as a department manager in a department store. Returning to Shiocton in 1900, he purchased a one-half interest in the Boynton Nurseries, and three years later bought out his partner, since which time he has been sole owner of this large business, now known as the Shiocton Nurseries. He is also engaged in the meat market business with his brother, Earl J., also in the Christmas tree and decorating business, the firm shipping large numbers of trees and other evergreens during the holiday seasons. In 1902 Mr. Williams was married to Grace M. Boynton, who was born October 10, 1881, daughter of William G. and Frances (Manning) Boynton, natives of Outagamie county, who are now living at Gig Harbor, Washington. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams: Wayne J. and Earl B. Like his father, Mr. Williams is a Republican in politics.
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1841 - 1913 (71 years)
Biography
