Shelby County TN Biographies
Sergeant
David Richard Williams
submitted by Peggy
Rhinerson
David Richard Williams was the son of
David Williams and Mary Richards Williams.
The family was
from Antiglobe, Gramoganshire, Wales in 1822.
David Richard Williams was 6 weeks old
when he arrived in Pittsburgh, PA. He
may
Mary Richard Williams died aboard ship
enroute to America and was buried at sea.
The siblings of David Richard Williams
were: Mary, John, and Margaret.
David Richard Williams married Arabella
Foreman on January 1, 1847 in
David Richard Williams enlisted in the
Union Army on December 11, 1861 in St. Louis,
The children of David Richard Williams
and Arabella Foreman Williams were:
Caroline “Carrie”
L. Williams (who died in youth), Emma Ann Williams (born Shaler Township,
Allegheny County, PA), Arabella Williams (born PA), Birdie MaeWilliams (born Pittsburgh, PA), Perry Hazard Williams (born St. Louis,
MO), Margaret Richard Williams (born St. Louis, MO), and David Richard Williams,
Jr. (born St. Louis, MO). They had
two children who died in
David Richard Williams signed away his
property in Allegheny County, PA, in payment
1850 census, Shaler, Allegheny, PA
(143/151): David Richard Williams
(26) Boiler,
1858, July 27, St. Louis, MO, David
Richard Williams, naturalization as a citizen of
1860 census, St. Louis, MO (798/2005):
David Richard Williams (34) a puddler who
1880 census, Memphis, Shelby County, TN,
District 15, E.D. 130, town of Chelsea:
David Richard
Williams (53, b. 1827 in Wales) a puddler, parents b. Wales;
Sergeant David Richard Williams died
November 6, 1880 in Memphis, Shelby, TN and is
Arabella Foreman Williams died March 21,
1897, age 75, in Memphis and she is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown,
Memphis, Shelby, TN.
Letter from D. R. Williams: Fort Defiance, March 17. 1861
My Dear Daughters
I now address a few lines
according to promises when I left home as you are aware it was on the 24th
of November last that I left St. Louis in the Gray’s Company A, First Regiment
on the Southwest Expedition marched to Camp Boon at this place (which is 5 miles
from the Kansas border and 300 miles from St. Louis) the Brigade received orders
to return home and four companys were raised, one of Artillery and three of
Calvary to protect the Border. I
joined the Artillery Capt. Jackson and served in this company until the 14th
of Jan when on being Elected 2nd Lieutenant of the 3rd
Company of Cavalry I was transferd to said Company and ordered to take post on
the line dividing this State and the Now State of Kansass
the Company is Comanded by Capt. Stapels and we have erected a baracade
and named it Fort Defiance. We are
now nearly through with the work which was much retarded by bad wether and the
fatigue of Scouting along the Line every night-some times riding Thirty and
forty miles between dark and daylight and then go to work on the fortifications
so you see that the life of a Soldier is not all play and you can also imagin
how very much time I have had to write to Mother and you after two months of
such work.
I hope that you both and Birdey have been good girls and Perry has been a
good Boy since I Left Home that you have been to school and improved as fast as
the circumstances under which you were placed this winter would permit.
The Indians have not comenced to come to this post to trade yet and as we
are prohibited to go to Kansass to trade with them I have been unable to buy
Mocisens for you yet but I am informed by the residents heare that there will be
plenty of them coming to sell their firs between this and the first of April
next so I wish you to write as soon as you receive this and let me know how many
inches long your feet is also your Mothers and Birdeys and I will try and get
them to fit as I am afraid that I cannot do so without the measure.
Tell your Mother that I wrote to her and Mr. Robinson on the 15th
inst and I wish them to answer immediately.
If you have biographies of Shelby
County TN folks,
send to me for posting to this page.
Please submit data to Vicki
Shaffer
