Joseph Davis Williams1

b. 15 February 1846, d. 21 September 1940
FatherWilliam Wesley Williams2 b. 16 Mar 1816, d. 1895 or 1907
MotherMariah Elizabeth Hagy b. 3 Jul 1813, d. bef 1857
Birth15 Feb 1846 Joseph Davis Williams was born on 15 Feb 1846 in Emory, Washington County, Virginia.3,4,5 
Moth-Deathbefore Jul 1857  His mother died before July 1857 at which time his father married Martha McCall. 
Cens-187027 Sep 1870  Joseph's father was employed as a wheelwright, a trade Joseph appears to have learned from him. The 1870 census recorded William and Martha Williams living in the Glade Spring township of Washington County. Both William and Joseph were listed as wheelwrights, as was 20 year old John Aker who was residing with them. Also present was Joseph's 24 year old sister "Kate" Williams.6 
  John Aker was Joseph's cousin (John's mother was a Williams). In 1871 John Aker married Joseph's sister Kate. 
MarriageMar 1873 Joseph married first Mary Elizabeth Hutton, daughter of Dr. Arthur Dixon Hutton and Sarah Elizabeth Buchanan Ryburn, on either the 7th, the 9th or the 11th of March, 1873 in Washington County.7,4,8,9 
 He was 25 and she was 21. 
WidowedJun 1879  Mary Elizabeth's death six years after their marriage left Joseph a widower with an infant daughter. 
Cens-188026 Jun 1880  Joseph and his daughter Maggie lived with Kate and John Aker. Both men worked as wagon makers.10 
Marriage13 Oct 1881 He married second Mary Virginia Horne, daughter of William Talbert Horne and Ann Elizabeth Gose, on 13 Oct 1881 in Washington County, Virginia.11 
Cens-19005 Jun 1900  By 1900 Joseph and Mary had four children. They were all recorded at home, along with Joseph's daughter Maggie from his first marriage. The household also still included Joseph's brother-in-law John Aker and Joseph's sister, Katie. John's occupation was listed as "undertaker". The large household also included 2 other Williams relatives.12 
Cens-191018 Apr 1910  But by 1910 Mollie had also died, leaving Joseph widowed for a second time.13 
Marriagebetween 1910 and 1920 He married third, between 1910 and 1920, Nancy Eliza (Martin) Dunn, daughter of John Henry Martin and Nancy Eliza Hagy, and widow of Robert Dunn.14 
  They were cousins.1  
Cens-192013 Jan 1920  The 1920 census enumeration recorded Joseph at age 72 and "Nannie" at age sixty-two. Also present was Joseph's daughter Margaret (36) and his son Aker (27), as well as Nancy [Kate] and John Aker.15 
Widowed25 Dec 1924  Nannie died on Christmas Day, 1924, leaving Joseph widowed for a third time. 
Cens-19303 Apr 1930  He continued to provide a home for his daughter, Margaret, who had not married.16 
Occupation Joseph was a partner in the firm of Williams and Akers, furniture dealers, undertakers and embalmers.17 
Public Serv  According to his son, Joseph also served in the Virginia State Legislature.18 
Death21 Sep 1940 Joseph died on 21 Sep 1940 at age 94.3 
  At the time he was the last living Confederate veteran in Washington County.19 
Burial He was buried in the Williams square at Old Baptist Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

A bill dated 1896 from Williams & Aker Co. for three coffins
Other interments in Old Baptist Cemetery

Family 1

Mary Elizabeth Hutton b. 22 Dec 1851, d. 3 Jun 1879
Children

Family 2

Mary Virginia Horne b. Sep 1861, d. 1909
Children
Last Edited30 Nov 2011

Citations

  1. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 173.
  2. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 172-3.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 171. Stone reported to read: Joseph D. Williams, 15 Feb. 1846-21 Sept. 1940.
  4. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 396. Joseph D. Williams, 25y, sgl, b & resid Washington Co. VA, mechanic, s/o WW & Mariah Williams AND Mary E. Hutton, 21y, sgl, b & resid WCV, d/o A.D. & Sarah Hutton; marr 9 March 1873.
  5. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 173; provides full date.
  6. [S635] Wesley Williams household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 69 (stamped), dwelling 221, family 228, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2007, image 31 of 49. Household includes: Wesley Williams, 54, wheelwright, owns land val at $1,600 and pers. prop of $200; Martha, 50; Kate, 24; cont. next page: J.D. Williams, 22, wheelwright; John Aker, wheelwright, 20; Walter Warren, 14, laborer; all b. VA.
  7. [S870] Carolyn Ryburn, "Nannie, widow of Robert Dunn," e-mail to D. Powell, 11 Jan. 2007. Carolyn found the marriage entered as 7 March 1873 in the Washington County marriage index (female entries).
  8. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was Mary Elizabeth's brother. He states that she married Joseph D. Williams on March 11, 1873.
  9. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 214; uses 11 Mar 1873. Source is not stated but Joseph's daughter-in-law was Addie Hutton, niece of James B. Hutton, author of the manuscript listed above.
  10. [S165] John N. Aker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 52 (78B stamped), dwelling 444, family 447, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 52 of 54. John W. Aker, 30, wagon maker; Kate W. 34, wife; Joseph Williams 32, bros-in-law, widowed, wagon maker; Maggie D. Williams 2, niece; M__ Pugh, black, 23, blacksmith; all born Virginia.
  11. [S123] William R. Wheeler, Washington Co., VA Marriage Licenses 1881-1890, pp 53, 118. Joseph D. Williams, 34, widowed, b. & reserv. Washington Co., VA, cabinet maker, s/o W.W. & Maria Williams AND Mollie V. Horne, 21, sgl, b. & resid WC VA, d/o W.F. & Ann E. Horne; 13 Oct. 1881 by BW Bishop.
  12. [S574] Joseph Williams household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 5A (65 stamped), dwelling 77, family 80, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 9 of 70. Recorded data includes: Joseph Williams, 52, b. Feb. 1848, occupation not clear; married 18 yrs; Mary, wife, b. Sept 1861, marr 18 yrs, mother 4 children, all living; Maggie, dau, 22, b. March 1878, music teacher; S___, son, 17, b. Aug. 1882; Annie, dau, 15, b. Sept. 1884; Aker, son, 11, b. Aug. 1888; Kate, dau, 9, b. Dec. 1890; John W. Aker, bros-in-law, 50, b. Apr. 1850, marr 23 yrs, undertaker; Katie, sister, 43, b. Dec. 1846, marr 23 yrs, no children; Frank Williams, step___, 69, (F), wid, no children; Bettie Williams, aunt, age: __, b. __ 1822; all persons and all parents b. VA.
  13. [S237] Joseph D. Williams household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 116, sheet 6A (6 stamped), dwelling 87, family 97, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 11 of 36. Recorded data includes: Joseph D. Williams, 63, wid, furniture dealer, owns home; Margaret D., dau, 29, sgl; Annie M., dau, 23, sgl, music teacher at high school; Katherine, dau, 19, sgl; all b. VA.
  14. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 173; provides full names.
  15. [S238] Joseph Williams household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Gladespring District, ED 149, sheet 6A (99 stamped), dwelling 95, family 97, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2003, image 6 of 19. Joseph Williams, 72, married, merchant in furniture store; Nannie, wife, 62; Margaret, dau, 36; Aker, son 27; John Aker, boarder, 69; Nancy Aker, boarder, 74.
  16. [S639] Joseph D. Williams household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Gladespring, ED 96-4, sheet 2B, dwelling 36, family 40, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2003, image 4 of 14. Joseph D. Williams, 83, wid, marr at 24, owns home worth $8,000, owns radio; Margaret, dau, 51, sgl; Myrtle Clifton, 32, boarder; James Caruth, 23, sgl, boarder, both boarders were school teachers.
  17. [S35] Nanci C. King, Places In Time Vol. II, p. 143.
  18. [S2717] "Preliminary Information Request", (1985), Stagecoach Inn, file: 095-0102, Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, Virginia. Research of Shelby Ireson Edwards dated 15 May 1985.
  19. [S35] Nanci C. King, Places In Time Vol. II, p. 142, citing: Washington County Forum, Sept. 16, 1940.
  20. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was Elizabeth's uncle.
  21. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was Margaret's uncle.
  22. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 214.