Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Archilles Williams

Archilles Williams, son of Jesse Williams, was born in Grayson, now Carroll county, Virginia, September 23, 1795. He removed, when young, with his father's family to Guilford Co., N.C., to which place his grandfather had removed with his family from Maryland, in 1851 or 1852. In 1814, the family removed to Cincinnati. After a brief visit to this place, [now Richmond,] in June, and a few months' sojourn at Waynesville, Ohio, the next year [1815] he returned in the fall to the South, and was married to Beulah Unthank. In 1817, he removed to Warren Co., O., and in the fall of 1818 to Richmond, and resumed his occupation-that of saddler-he being the first of that trade in the town-and continued the business ofr many years. He then entered into an unfortunate partnership in establishing and carrying on a foundry, the first in the place. The businiess was most distastrous to him. After giving up all his effects to his creditors, he was still largely in debt. In 1829, he was elected county commissioner, which office he held several years. He was elected as a representative in the legislature for the sessions of 1837-38, and as a senator for the three succeding sessions. After the election of President Harrison, he was appointed postmaster at Richmond, but was superseded under Tyler. In 1844, he was eldected county treasurer, and by re-elections continued in that office eleven years. Although the office was then far less lucrative than now, it enable him, by proper frugality and economy, to cancel all the debts growing out of the partnership alluded to. And he often speaks of the kindness his fellow-citizens in thus enabling him to accomplish one of the most desirable objects of his life. He was appointed postmaster again by President Lincoln, and removed by President Johnson. He has, since the death of Robert Morrisson, been the earliest settler with a family now living in Richmond. His wife died April 28, 1871.

The children of Achilles and Beulah Williams who lived to maturity, were Susan, wife of David Osborn, Of Ohio; Joseph; Rebecca, wife of Thaddeus Wright; Zalinda, who married Dr. Wilson Hobbs, of Carthage, Ind.; Robert; Martha, who married Milton Yeo, of Ohio; Sarah, wife of Benj. Webb; and Caroline, wife of Charles C. Dennis, of Indianapolis. Robert died in 1861; Rebecca and Martha in 1866.

Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana, by Andrew W. Young. pub 1872