Williams, Rev. John Edward

Other Events:

• Occupation: a cowboy
• Occupation: minister

Notes:

Occupation:
In his youth, John was employed by some large cattle operations in Denver, Dodge, Cheyenne, and Montana.

Occupation:
John was a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He frequently traveled long distances on horseback to serve his charges. Often working in rural or remote areas, John continued to farm and ranch, as did many itinerant preachers in the M. E. Church.

Buried:
John was buried in the Lee Mission Cemetery (Section A, Block 28, Lot 02, Grave 08). He and his wife share a gravestone.

Died:

The following is a transcription of an obituary for Rev. John E. Williams published on 20 June 1948 in the Oregon Statesman, of Salem, Oregon..

     "Funeral Set Tuesday for Rev. Williams--Funeral services for the Rev. John E. Williams, pioneer Methodist minister and Salem resident for eight years, who died in a local hospital Saturday, will be held at the First Methodist church Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
     "Dr. Edward Wolfe, pastor of the Sunnyside Methodist church in Portland, will officiate and interment will be in the Jason Lee cemetery. Services will be under the direction of the W. T. Rigdon company.
     "Williams, a resident of 1112 Mill st., was born in Galliton [sic] county, Ill., Aug. 14, 1863, and spent his boyhood in that state. He was married to Lillian A. Minden, at Preston, Kan., in 1888, and the couple moved to Dayton, Wash. His widow survives.
     "Moving to Walla Walla, Wash., Williams served as a minister and farmed in the valley until 1892 when he joined the old Columbia River Methodist conference at The Dalles. The conference later merged with the Puget Sound Methodist conference to form the Pacific Northwest conference.
     "While a member of the Columbia River conference, Williams served his first pastorate with the Covella circuit in Washington. He came to Oregon in 1911, serving as pastor at Prineville. As a member of the Pacific Coast conference, Williams served churches in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Indiana and Kentucky. Before coming to Salem he was pastor at Banks, Ore.
     "Surviving beside his widow are three daughters, Mrs. A. A. Segersten of Lewiston, Idaho, Ethel L. Williams of Fossil, Ore., and Mrs. Frances L. Arant of Forest Grove; three sisters, Mrs. Jeff Triplett and Mrs. John Black of Lewiston and Mrs. O. E. Carter of Portland; a brother, Low Williams of Myrtle, Idaho; three grandchildren, William E. Durand of Tacoma, Wash., Mrs. R. L. Ettinger of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. C. A. Weaver of Stockton, Calif., and three great-grandchildren."

John married Minden, Lillian Amelia 20 Dec 1888, Preston, Pratt County, Kansas, USA. Lillian (daughter of Minden, George Ernst and Wellemeyer, Lisette Matilda) was born 6 Apr 1870, Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 2 Oct 1948, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA; was buried 5 Oct 1948, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:

The following is a transcription supplied by Sharon Lemkuil of a portion of a diary written by John E. Williams. Sharon has also supplied the editorial notes.

     "It was revealed to me in a dream one night who my bride should be. It made a profound impression on me. I had known the dear girl for years; we lived as neighbors. I knew that she was a perfect little Queen. But that she and I would ever wed, had never entered my thoughts before the dream vision. One beautiful June Sunday morning, when the flowers were blooming and the birds were sweetly singing, and all nature was clothed in her most beautiful garments, I was sitting in my Sunday school class, when suddenly my dream came to me like a flash, when a young lady of eighteen years, with a beautiful and perfect form, and oh such a lovely sweet face, and the loveliest beautiful brown eyes, she was the loveliest creature I had ever seen, entered the church. I looked up into her face, and oh such a captivating smile, it captured my heart and soul. She was the girl presented to me in my dream. I was almost overcome with the thought; could it be true that such a lovely girl was to become my wife? I hoped so. Was it just an ordinary dream? I hoped not. When the preacher began his sermon, I looked not at him but at her, and she smiled so beautifully. I remember nothing about the sermon. Not one word.
     "When the services were over I lost no time in getting to her pew, shook hands with her, and told her I was glad to see her. I was. Then she smiled a heart captivating smile, I was almost overcome. Such winning manners could not be described. It was her beautiful character, as well as her beautiful face, and form which gave her such magnetic charm.
     "I asked her if I might have the pleasure of her company to the song service which met at the church at three o'clock p.m. She accepted and it sent a thrill of joy all over me. At two-thirty I was at her home, buggy shining, I had two fine speedy horses, all slicked up. I drove at a two forty gate going up. But in coming back gave them plenty of time. She seemed to rather enjoy the slow driving. She said that she did not believe in driving horse hard; neither did I then. And I drove very slowly all the way back to her home. I did not want to offend her.
     "I asked to come again the next Sunday, and was accepted. I went, but it was my last time, at least for the present.
     "Her good parents objected for her to keep company with young men. I think that they knew what would happen if we continued to keep company together."

Note: John had recently returned home and had become converted. Before that he had led the life of a true hardened cowboy, for three years never having been at a meal made by the hands of a woman. He worked Cheyenne, Dodge, Denver and Montana, almost dying in a blizzard which is when he decided to return home to his parents in Kansas.

     "But I determined to win her at any cost. So we began a correspondence until my dream became true. After we were engaged for quite a while, I met her one day coming to town on a mule, and while riding as close as I could to the mule with my horse, I attempted to kiss her, she being perfectly willing. It was more than an attempt. But I almost pulled her off the mule. It was a very narrow escape, and I do not recommend such tactics to others. It takes an expert to do it."

Note: At this point John goes to see his family in Socorro, New Mexico where they had moved to from the Haynesville, Pratt County KS farm which John was working, but they didn't like it there. John went on to Dayton, Washington and recommended the country to his father who took the family there. Meanwhile, John returned to Kansas, asked Lillie to marry him immediately and to move to Washington, which they did.

     "I insisted that we get married as soon as possible. To this she agreed and on December the 20th 1888 we drove to Pratt Center, secured our license and drove back to Preston, went to the home of the Rev. J. W. Lowe, and were married about four o'clock. And lo my dream came true. And from that good day to the present, 1907, she has been as perfect a wife as any one could be. During all these years she has never shown bad temper nor spoke an unkind word to her most unworthy mate."

Note: John's youngest brother was named Luther Lowe Williams, Luther for his mother's maiden name (they were of the same family as Martin Luther the Reformer, the line is from Martin Luther's first cousin), and Lowe most likely after this Rev. J. W. Lowe.

1. Williams, Blanche Elizabeth was born 1889; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Williams, Florence Willard was born 1891; died 1891.
3. Williams, Ethel Lydia was born 13 Jun 1892; died Oct 1981.
4. Williams, Frances Lillian was born 27 Dec 1893; died 1985, California, USA.

Notes:

Birth:
Mathew was born near Wood County, Virginia at a location that later became Wirt County, West Virginia.

Buried:
Mathew Souder Williams was buried in the Gifford Cemetery.

Died:
Mathew died as a result of an accident with a wagon at the home of his son, Charles W. Williams.

Mathew married Luther, Elizabeth Putnam Gallatin County, Illinois, USA. Elizabeth was born 11 Oct 1835, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA; died 3 Mar 1900, Gifford, Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA; was buried , Gifford, Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Elizabeth was buried first on the farm of her son, John Edward Williams, and was later moved to Gifford Cemetery, Gifford, Nez Perce County, Idaho.

Died:
Elizabeth was living on the farm of her son John Edward Williams, located 27 miles east of Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho, near Gifford, Idaho.

Notes:

Married:
Details of the marriage are not known at this time.