| Obit For | Williams, James H. |
|---|---|
| Headline | A Pioneer's Last Move |
| Text | OZAR'KIN, Vol. VII, No. 3, Fall 1985 - Barry County Obituaries, continued Transcribed from The Aurora Advertiser and Southwest Miner by Inabell Williams, May 21, 1909
A Pioneer's Last Move-- A trip into the county along R.F.D. No. 2 last week brought the observer to Clay Hill Cemetery, and to the funeral of James H. Williams, 72 years of age, and one of the honored pioneers of the Clay Hill neighborhood where he has lived twenty-five or thirty years. He leaves a wife and son at home, Peter WILLIAMS of Gotebo, Okla., and another son of Colorado, and two daughters. Mr. WILLIAMS is said to be the father of twenty-five children, his first wife buried in Athens, Tenn., [This is wrong for she is buried in Osa Cemetery in Barry Co., MO--I.W.] his second wife the mother of 22 children, a family that certainly would delight the heart of the ex-president. Driven from his home in East Tennessee Valley he fled to Kentucky and enlisted in an infantry regiment. Anyone who has traveled the road from Chattanooga to Knoxville knows what hardship it must have been to leave that beautiful strip of county and make a home in the hills of Barry. Clay Hill cemetery grove was full of sympathetic neighbors who came to pay their respect to Uncle Jim. Strangely enough, the first body to be buried here was that of Albert WILLIAMS in '78, son of Elias WILLIAMS. The ground was given for school purposes, but with changes in the school district the house was removed, and the ground continued to be used as a grave yard. A beautiful spot, with grove and sleeping place for the dead, side by side--a secluded and restful spot. We noticed the grave of Lieut. W. B. RICKMAN, Co. A. Phelp's Mo. Infantry, born 1835, died in '88. Other names familiar to the people, Pioneers and patriots, are found in this resting place: ELLIS, WILLIAMS, LAWSON, BERRY and others. The funeral of Uncle Jim was simple, sincere and solemn. Rev. COLE was his pastor and friend and spoke of the old gentleman in terms of affection and respect. His text was Job V Chap., 26 verse. Rev. Royal WILLIAMS pastor of Clay Hill Cumberland church offered a prayer full of sweet comfort and consolation, and singers from the choir lead the service of song. The reporter of the Advertiser having been a soldier was invited to pay tribute to the dead comrade. He had made the march to Chattanooga after the battle of Missionary Ridge, through Cleveland and Athens, the boyhood home of Mr. WILLIAMS, and so had a bond of sympathy and interest that brought the old soldiers into vital relations. He said: "I remember the desolation the war had brought to Athens. Gen. Longstreet and his confederates had just gone up the valley to besiege Knoxville, and had swept the country clean of things to eat. The desolation was complete--the plowshare of war had plowed deep and in the fresh furrows the old men, women, and children lay helpless and forlorn. Uncle Jim had been plowed up and finally transplanted to Missouri. When God wants to make a new and better generation he takes them out of the old surroundings into a new country. The name of WILLIAMS and ELLIS suggest Welsh ancestry--the names of men who came across the sea into a new country." The service was soon over, the grave was filled and the people went to their homes with the admonition and council of Bro. COLE strongly upon their hearts. Mrs. Elijah WILLIAMS, of Crane, a sister-in-law, was present with her sons James, Postmaster of Crane, also John P. and wife. We also noticed Bood WILLIAMS and family. People had come from Jenkins, Aurora, Crane, Madry, Cassville, McDowell--friends and relatives, from near and far, so widely known and respected was the old pioneer. A son of pilgrims and a stranger from over the sea--transplanted from the valley of sunny Tennessee. Uncle Jim has made his last move and joined the camp of the immortals and pitched his tent upon the hills whose foundations are hid in eternity. |
| Newspaper or Funeral Home | OZAR'KIN, Vol. VII, No. 3, Fall 1985 |
| Date | 1909 - published 1985 |
| Death Cert Link | - |
| Resource | Quarterly Magazine |
| Submitted by | Barbara Erwin |
