Henry Martyn Williams January 24, 1843-August 11, 1917, Plat H 40 and wife Mary Hamilton Williams December 18, 1845-November 2, 1922 Lindenwood Cemetery Find A Grave Memorial.
Still need to determine if any of these monuments were ever made and if so where are they? See our Markers page.
Henry M. Williams, Soldier Patriot, Illustrates Striking Incidents Proclaims Historical War Figures The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, June 25, 1911, Page 22.
Monuments and Statues
(By Henry M. Williams.)
Many years ago I designed these twelve monuments and statues, and some more to appear later, and my hope is now soon to see them realized, all but one to appear in Fort Wayne, the exception being the "LaBalm Massacre" memorial, which will be placed at the mouth of the Aboite river, eleven miles southwest from Fort Wayne. A duplicate of Captain Wells will undoubtedly find a place in Chicago, in honor of whom their "Wells" street was named, and ours. Of "The Indian's First Bullet," I think there will be several reproductions, and of President Lincoln and Tad I hope there will be full fifteen, in as many different cities all over the broad United States. The 300,000 citizens of Los Angeles should not be compelled to travel 3,000 miles to Boston to see what will be the best statue of the great, and good, and gentle "Lincoln," they should have a copy at home.
Henry M. Williams, Soldier Patriot, Illustrates Striking Incidents Proclaims Historical War Figures The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, June 25, 1911, Page 22.
1917 - Wires Wilson - Henry M. Williams Suggests a Peace Conference - To President Wilson Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, March 26, 1917, Page 2.
WIRES WILSON
Henry M. Williams Suggests a Peace Conference.
Henry M. Williams, civil war veteran, today sent the following wire to President Wilson, suggesting a peace conference of all nations:
"March 26, 1917."
"To President Wilson, Washington, D. C.: "All the European nations being now ready and anxious for peace,' I suggest to President Wilson to call now, immediately, an 'international peace conference,' the delegates to assemble as soon as practicable in Washington, to stop further slaughter of men and the sinking of ships.
"HENRY M. WILLIAMS.".
1917 - Seriously Ill - Henry M. Williams Removed to Hope Hosptial The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, July 26, 1917, Page 4.
SERIOUSLY ILL
Henry M. Williams Removed to Hope Hospital.
Henry M. Williams, civil war veteran and one of Fort Wayne's pioneer citizens is in a critical condition at Hope hospital as a result of a nervous breakdown. He was removed to the hospital from the Anthony where he had been making his home, and this morning it was stated that he had only "a fairly restful night.".
1917 - Henry M. Williams Dies - Civil War Veteran - Eleventh Indiana Battery Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 11, 1917, Page 2.
HENRY M. WILLIAMS DIES
Henry M. Williams, veteran of the civil war and life long resident of Fort Wayne, died this afternoon at the Hope hospital at the age of 74 years. He was a son of Jesse Lynch Williams and was born in Fort Wayne January 24, 1843. He entered the northern army in 1861 when 18 years of age, and fought throughout the war in the Eleventh Indiana battery.
The surviving relatives include the widow, Mrs. Mary Hamilton-Williams, and two sons, Attorney Creighton H. Williams and Dr. Allen Williams.
1917 - Henry M. Williams Is Called By Death - Well-known Veteran of Civil War Passes Away 74 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, August 12, 1917, Page 1.
HENRY M. WILLIAMS IS CALLED BY DEATH
Well-Known Veteran of the Civil War Passes Away at the Age of 74 Years.
AN INTERURBAN PROMOTER
Henry M. Williams, seventy-four years old, civil war veteran, and well known citizen of Fort Wayne, passed away, yesterday afternoon at Hope hospital, where he had been confined for several weeks, death being due to the infirmities of old age. Mr. Williams had been in failing health for several months, but not until recently was his condition considered serious. Surviving besides the widow are two sons, Dr. Allen Hamilton Williams, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Creighton Williams, 234 Montgomery street. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed. Henry M. Williams. was the owner
(Continued on Page 12. Column 1.).
1917 - Henry M. Williams Is Called by Death ( continued from page 1.0 )The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, August 12, 1917, Page 12.
HENRY M. WILLIAMS IS CALLED BY DEATH
(Continued from Page 1.)
of the Lake Everett property, known as Thousand Acre park, and he also had considerable property in Fort Wayne. He organized the Fort Wayne Union Traction company and was its president. For a number of years he had been interested in the promotion of interurban railroads leading out of Fort Wayne.
Mr. Williams was born in Fort Wayne, Jan. 24, 1843, on the northwest corner of East Berry and Lafayette streets. His father, Jesse Lynch Williams, was from North Carolina, living in sight of the famous battlefleld of Guilford Courthouse, 1781, a descendunt of the Tyrells and Lynches around Lynchburg. Va., one of the Lynches being that Col. John Lynch of King's Mountain battlefield celebrity, afterward the originator of the famous "Lynch Law' method 'of administering justice, a necessity then because the civil authorities in that sparsely settled region were unable to protect the community from the lawlessness that followed the disbandment of the revolutionary army. Just flogging was the rule then, of the Lynch law, and only after trial by a jury composed of some the colonel's old trusted soldiers. His mother was of the Creightons and Meades of Virginia and Kentucky, her ancestor, David Meade, of James River, Va., was a brother of Col. Richard Kidder Meada, personal aide-de-camp to. Gen. Washington through the war, one of whose painful duties was the supersivion of the execution of the famous English officer, Major Andre, condemned as a spy.
He entered the army in 1861, at past eighteen years of age, to fight the south in their efforts to destroy the union of the states to perpetuate human slavery, was commissioned a lieutenant of the Eleventh cavalry by Indiana's great war governor, Oliver P. Morton, and served two years in the army, until crippled in the second day battle of Chickamauga, Sunday, Sept. 20, 1863, by a gunshot wound at close range which broke the wrist bones of his right arm, his sword arm, useless arm thereafter. Among many and varied war experiences, he often mentioned one of the battle at Stone River, Tenn., to illustrate the presence of mind of the general of the army, Gen, Rosecrans. Conveying a message to him from Gen. Van Cleve, that he overlapped by the enemy of the right, and must have more troops immediately, Rosecrans, knowing he had no more to send at the moment, with quick decision replied, "Tell Van Cleve to charge them," hoping thereby to make a diversion till he could got up more troops. "Turning my 'horse to gallop rapidly back, I was overtaken by Rosecrans' Adjutant General Goddard, yelling, "Young man what was that order." which I repeated, "Tell Van Cleve: to charge all right, go on," he said. A few moments later Col. Garesche, Rosecrans' chief of staff was killed on his horse by a cannon ball that cut his head clear off at the neck, a most distressing spectacle to his friends surrounding him. When Rosecrans visited Fort Wayne after the war, Mr. Williams printed the incident of "Tell Van Cleve to charge 'em" in the Fort Wayne daily papers, which gave the grizzled old general much pleasure. He had printed also that old saying, "brag is a good dog, but holdfast is better" and changing it to read "'Bragg is a good dog, but Holdfast Rosecrans is better," for we held our ground through the three days' fighting and the enemy evacuated Murfreesboro and went south.
Mr. Williams after leaving the Fort Wayne high school, matriculated as a student in four different universities. First, at Miami university, Oxford, 0., then at Princeton, N. J., then at the University of Goettingen, in Germany, with four months at the University of Jena as a member of the Westphalen society, and he matriculated and studied last in the University of London, Eng., then under the progressive fostering care of Tyndall and Huxley.
1917 - Henry M. Williams Is Called By Death - Well Known Citizen Dies - The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 11, 1917, Page 1.
HENRY M. WILLIAMS IS CALLED THREE GREAT RIGHT ARMS SMITING GERMANY ON WESTERN FRONT
DEATH BY DEATH WELL KNOWN CITIZEN DIES
Had Been Ill But a Short Time, When He Passed at Hospital.
CAME OF PIONEER FT. WAYNE FAMILY
Father Was a Canal Builder and He Was Veteran of Civil War.
Henry M. Williams, 74 years old, one of the pioneer residents of Allen county, died at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Hope hospital following a serious illness of three weeks. Death was due to the infirmities of old age, according to the attending physician. For several months Mr. Williams had been in failing health. His rapid decline being very noticeable to his (Continued on Page 18, Column 4)
1917 - photo with story Well-Known Citizen Dies - (continued from page 1.) The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 11, 1917, Page 18.
1917 - Henry William Succumbs - Civil War Veteran Pioneer Citizen Dies After Brief Illness Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 13, 1917, Page 13.
HENRY WILLIAMS SUCCUMBS
War Veteran and Pioneer Citizen Dies After Brief Illness.
Served in Civil War Until Wounded in Battle--Was Son of Jesse Lynch Williams.
The death of Henry M. Williams has taken from Fort Wayne one of the best known and most picturesque characters in the city. Wealthy, a descendent of some of the first families in the south, and with a magnificent record as a soldier in the union army during the civil war, Mr. Williams held a place in the city and in the affections of its people that will long be remembered.
Mr. Williams was a native of Fort Wayne. He was born here on January 24, 1843, in the old homestead at the northwest corner of Berry and Lafayette streets. Both parents came from the best and most courageous families in the south. His father was Jesse Lynch William, of North Carolina, living in sight of the famous battlefield of Guilford Court House, 1781. He was a decendent of the Tyrrels and Lynches around Lynchburg, Va., one of the family being the famous Col. John Lynch, of Kings Mountain fame, the originator of "lynch" law, which was needed at that time to curb the lawless element following the disbanding of the revolutionary army. Mr. Williams' mother' was of the Creightons and Moades, of Virginia, and Kentucky. Her ancestor, David Meade, of Kames River, Va., was a brother of Col. Richard Meade, personal aide-do-camp of General Washington through the war and upon whom fell the painful duty of supervising the execution of Major Andre, condemned as a spy after Benedict treachery.
With warlike ancestors on both sides it was little wonder than at the outbreak of the civil war Henry M. Williams should feel the call of his country. At the age of eighteen he entered the union army, commissioned as a lieutenant of artillery by Indiana's war governor; Oliver P. Morton. For two years he served gallantly until on September 20, 1863, he was at Chickamauga wounded when a heavy ball tore through "his right wrist and rendered the hand practically useless for the balance of his life. Lieutenant Williams was the messenger to General Rosecrans at the battle of Stone River, Tenn., and carried to him the message from General Van Cleve that the enemy had overlapped Williams bore back from that famous message that saved the day. "Tell Van Cleve to charge 'em.". Van Cleve charged and the enemy fell back just in time to be received by a hail of shot from Rosecrans' thirtyfour cannon. The incident was 'recalled by General Rosecrans when he visited Port Wayne after the war and remained for a time as Mr. Williams' guest.
At the battle of Chickamauga Lieutenant Williams' played a brave part and sixty per cent of the members fell under confederate bullets. As long as there were men to man the guns the battery held firm and covered the retreat of the union army at that point, the resistance only ending when Lieutenant Williams was wounded in the hand. He lost so much blood from the wound that he fell from his horse unconscious and the officer who succeeded him ordered the battery to retreat.
Lieutenant Williams was a dead shot with a pistol and after his right arm was rendered useless by his wound he learned to shoot nearly as good with his left. This stood him in good stead when he went to Germany after the war. There a burly German "Herr Lieutenant" jostled him off the sidewalk and when remonstrated with challenged to a duel. He expected of course that the weapons would be sabers, which Williams could not wield with a useless right hand, but when Williams designated pistols and he learned that the American was a dead shot with his left hand he apologized quickly.
Mr. Williams possessed a remarkable education. He was graduated from the common schools and the high school here, and was a student in universities here and abroad. First he attended Miami university at Oxford, O., then he attended the university at Princeton, N. J. Going abroad he attended Goettingen university, Germany, and from there went to the university at Jena, where he became a member of the Students' Westphalen society. Following the completion of the course there he went to the University of London, then under the direction of the great Tyndall and Huxley.
Of late years Mr. Williams' dream has been the completion of an interurban line to Lake Everett which he owned. He had planned to make the little lake a beauty spot and had invested considerable money in its improvement. He constantly endeavored to promote an interurban line through the Lake Everett territory and on north, and had he succeeded he would undoubtedly have seen his lake one of the resorts of this territory.
1917 - Funeral Wednesday - Services for Late Henry M. Williams to be Held at Son's Home The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 13, 1917, Page 8.
FUNERAL WEDNESDAY,
Services for Late Henry M. Williams to •Be Held at Son's Home.
Funeral services for Henry M. Williams, who died Saturday afternoon, will be held Wednesday afternoon at the home of Creighton Williams, 234 Montgomery street, at 8 o'clock. Rev. T. P. Potts will officiate, and the body will be interred in Lindenwood ceretery.
1917 - Will Attend Funeral - Henry M. Williams - Eleventh Indiana battery The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 13, 1917, Page 2.
WILL ATTEND FUNERAL.
Members of the Eleventh Indiana battery are requested to meet at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the home of Creighton Williams, 234 Montgomery street to attend the funeral of the late Henry M. Williams, who was a member of the battery.
1917 - Henry M. Williams - citizen fine spirit - civic ideals - faith Fort Wayne - great future The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 13, 1917, Page 4.
HENRY M. WILLIAMS.
Fort Wayne has lost by the death of Henry M. Williams a citizen of fine spirit. He was a man of high civic ideals and he cherished to the last an intense interest in all that pertained to the welfare of this community which was his natal place and for three-quarters of a century his residence. He had faith in Fort Wayne-faith so strong that his belief in Fort Wayne's future got him looked upon by many of less vision as a mere enthusiastic dreamer. But some of those who once scoffed at him are living to see his faith justified and his dreams come true. He never doubted that a great future lay ahead of his city.
A good many years ago he was perhaps the first of Fort Wayne's men to foresee the development of electric interurban railways and the coming of a time when this city would be the plexus of a great system of these carriers. All that he previsioned has not arrived, but there has been a great development and the rest of it will come, even to those favorite projects of his own that many practical men agree have offered the best fields for development of electric transportation.
For years Mr. Williams made the public water supply of Fort Wayne his special and almost personal and private concern. He was an inveterate foe of every proposal and scheme to abandon the city's wells as source of supply and it was well known that he stood ready to make a legal battle with his own resources against any attempt to give up the water system as it was and as it has remained. In the chamber of the city council is a banner bearing this inscription:
"National Patriotism; Civic Patriotism: Hold the Fort Against All Schemes for Private Gain."
That banner was presented to the city council almost a quarter of a century ago by Mr. Williams. It sententiously expresses the ideals for which he stood. He was devoted to his country and proved his devotion by years of service in the civil war and carries to his grave the scars of battle. He was devoted to his city with the same spirit and he proved that in many ways and would have proved it in still more and greater ways, as he sought to do, but encountered stupid and short-sighted obstructions, the folly of which are today seen and appreciated.
Mr. Williams took a lively and frequently an aggressive part in public discussions and was a frequent contributor to the local press upon topics of current importance. Editors of Fort Wayne will long recall him as a rare instance of a speaker to the public through the newspaper columns who did not believe unlimited space was his by due and title without question and without price. He rarely claimed space, no matter how little of it, that he did not enclose with his communication some honorarium "to pay," as he habitually expressed it, "for the type-setting."' A time will come, we believe, when many of the things he made the object of both his prophecies and his labors, will come about. He could see far ahead. In his passing Fort Wayne sustains the loss of a sturdy and progressive citizen who stood for what was best in public conduct and achievement.
Mary Hamilton Williams
1922 - Pioneer Woman Succumbs Today - Mrs. Mary Hamilton Williams - Prominent Local Family The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, November 2, 1922, Page 1.
PIONEER WOMAN SUCCUMBS TODAY
Mrs. Mary Hamilton Williams Was Member of Prominent Local Family.
BROKEN HIP CAUSE DEATH
Mrs. Mary Hamilton Williams, aged 76, a pioneer reaident of this city and a member of prominent family in the early history of Fort Wayne, died this morning, at 2 o'clock, at the family residence, Montgomery and Barr streets, as as direct result of a fall suffered at the home, three weeks ago, in which a hip was broken. Mrs. Williams had been an invalid for the last, several years.
The deceased was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Emerine J. Hamilton, who came to this city in pioneer days. Mr. Hamilton was a native of Ireland and came to this country when a young man. After his marriage with Mrs. Hamilton, in southern Indiana, the family moved to Fort Wayne, where he, together with Hugh McCulloch and Jesse L. Williams, founded the Allen Hamilton & Co. Banking house, which later was reorganized as the Hamilton National bank.
Mrs. Williams was born here on December 18, 1845. In 1867 she was married to Henry M. Williams. The two lived for many years at the home place, Montgomery and Barr streets. Mr. Williams died in 1917, at the age of 72 years.
Mrs. Williams was a member of the First Presbyterian church.
Surviving relatives are two sons. Dr. Allen H. Williams, of Santa Barbara, Cal., who arrived in this city Wednesday, and Creighton H. Williams, an attorney of this city, and four grandchildren. A daughter died in infancy. Miss Margaret V. Hamilton, a sister living at Aurora, Ind., also survives. Two brothers, Montgomery and Holman Hamilton, are dead, and a second sister. Mrs. Nellie Hamilton-Wagenhals died recently.
1922 - Pioneer Resident of Fort Wayne Dead - Mrs. Mary Hamilton Williams Invalid for Several Years The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Friday, November 3, 1922, Page 6.
PIONEER RESIDENT OF FORT WAYNE DEAD
Mrs. Mary Hamilton Williams Had Been an Invalid for Several Years
Mrs. Mary Williams, 76, a life-long resident of Fort Wayne and a member of one of the pioneer families of this city, died at 2 o'clock yesterday morning at her home, Montgomery and Barr streets. Mrs. Williams had been an invalid for several years. A few months ago she fell and broke her hip and since that time she bad been in gradually falling health, Mrs. Williams was the daughter of Allen and Emerine Hamilton, and her father was one of the founders of Allen Hamilton & Co., one of the first banking houses in the city, which was later reorganized as the Hamilton National bank. She was born December 18, 1845, and in 1867 was married to Henry M. Williams, who died in 1917. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church.
Surviving are two, sons, Dr. Allen Williams, Santa Barbara, Cal., and Creighton H. Williams, local attorney, and four grandchildren.
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