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JOHN B. WILLIAMS
Originally published in 1900 |
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JOHN B. WILLIAMS, one of the prominent and enterprising farmers
of New Durham, Hudson County, is the eldest son of John Williams and
Sarah A. Saunier and a grandson of John Williams, Sr., and Rebecca Smith.
Of his paternal grandfather, John Williams, Sr., but little is definitely
known. He was an honored resident of New Durham, and is supposed to
have been lost on the Hudson River. By his wife, Rebecca Smith, he had
children as follows: Leah, wife of Henry Post; Phoebe, wife of Job Smith;
Margaret, wife of William Berry; John, Jr., who succeeded to the New
Durham homestead; Ann, wife of Garret Van Giesen; and Rebecca, wife
of John Green. John Williams, Jr., the only son, was a life-long resident
on the family homestead, being born there in 1804, and dying there in
1881. He was always a farmer, an old-lime Whig, and a useful, enterprising
citizen. universally respected for those virtues which distinguish
an honest man. His wife, who died May 14, 1886, was Sarah Ann Saunier,
daughter of Mitchell and Eliza (Vreeland) Saunier, of New Durham, and a
descendant of Pierre Paul Saunier, a celebrated botanist who was sent
to America by the French government to gather natural products of this
country for transplanting in Europe; he came over with Andr6 Michans,
a French botanist and trader. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had seven children,
as follows: Ann Eliza, who married Henry H. Van (Tlahn; John B., the
subject of this sketch; Mitchell; Angeline; Margaret, who married Bryant
Stephens; Mary Emma; and George E. Of these only John B., Mitchell,
and Mary Emma are living.
John B. Williams was horn December 15, 1836, on the old family homestead in New Durham, Hudson County, on which he has spent his entire life. FHis education was obtained in the common schools of the neighborhood. After completing his studies he learned the trade of bookbinder, which he followed as a business, in conjunction with farming, until 1864. Since then he has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, building, and real estate, achieving eminent success in every sense of the term. He is regarded as one of the best farmers in his section of the State. Industrious, enterprising, and practical, lie is universally respected for those broad and sterling qualities which mark the honest man. The esteem in which he is held is attested by his popularity, and by the confidence reposed in his sound judgment and unimpeachable character. He is a man of the highest integrity, faithful to every trust, just and conscientious in all the relations of life, and modest and unassuming, though true to his convictions and fearless in discriminating between right and wrong. A keen sense of justice is one of his strongest characteristics. He is a Republican in politics, but has never sought political preferment or publicity of any kind. On the contrary he has declined official positions, though often urged to accept them, accepting only the position of State Visitor to the Agricultural College at New Brunswick. N. J. While he adheres to party lines on State and national issues, he is strictly independent in all local maters, casting his vote and influence in favor of those candidates and movements which promise the greatest good, and which have the public welfare at heart. Born and reared on the farm, and educated in the practical school of experience, he developed a strong constitution, great mental energy, and high physical and intellectual abilities, and during a long and successful career has maintained the confidence of the entire community. Mr. Williams was married in 1866 to Gertrude Edsall, daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Christie) Edsall and granddaughter of John Edsall and Gertrude Lydeeker. They have had four children: John Walter Williams, who is engaged in business in New York City; Annette; Samuel Edsall Williams, deceased; and Sarah Isabell Williams. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Sons and Daughters of the Revolution. Her brothers and sister are John S. Edsall, Sarah A. (Mrs. Cornelius J. Westervelt, of Bergen County), and Samuel S. Edsall. The children of her paternal grandparents, John and Gertrude (Lydecker) Edsall, were Samuel S., Hannah (Mrs. Joel M. Johnson). Naomi (Mrs. John H. Brinckerhoff), Mary Agnes (Mrs. Samuel de Groot), Garret L., and Gertrude (Mrs. Isaac R. Vreeland). Mr. and Mrs. Williams represent two of the oldest and best known families in East Jersey, as well as several allied families of prominence and distinction.
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