Obituaries of Thomas Spencer Williams

Below are two scanned newspaper articles about Thomas Spencer Williams. Since these may be difficult to read I have first typed the stories for your perusal. These articles were sent to me by Clara Ruth Pearson Earnest.

(Editor: Cleburne is located next to Dallas, Texas and Columbus is located next to Houston, Texas 190 miles to the south.)

Date Unknown, probably August 20 – August 24 , 1900

T. S. Williams aged 74 years, father of J. T. Williams (Editor: John Thomas Williams, born 1850, Sumner County, Tennessee, son of Thomas Spencer Williams), the popular grocer of this city, died at his residence in Columbus, Texas, Wednesday of last week. Mr. Williams went down to Columbus, Thursday, but arrived too late for the funeral. The deceased visited his son, in Cleburne, in the spring and made a friend of all with whom he came into contact. The Review tenders sincere condolence to its good friend in his sore bereavement. (Editor: J. T. Williams is John Thomas Williams, birth 1850, Sumner County, Tennessee)

Wednesday, August 22, 1900

In common with his many friends in this section, the Citizen regrets to note the death of Captain T. S. Williams, early last Thursday, who died in this city at the residence of his son, Mayor Williams (Editor: Henry Swan Williams, born 1854, Tennessee, son of Thomas Spencer Williams), early last Thursday morning. His remains were committed to earth at 10:00 last Friday morning, from the Methodist church, a large number of relatives and friends accompanying the hearse to the grave. Impressive funeral ceremonies were conducted by Rev. J. W. McMahan, pastor of the Methodist church, the solemnity being enhanced by the touching and appropriate choir service.

Thomas Spencer Williams was born in Sumner County, Tenn., May 29, 1826, was married to Miss Elizabeth Frazer in 1846, the union having been blessed with seven children, four boys and three girls of whom three boys and one girl survive their father. In 1850 the family removed to Obion County, Tenn., and in the fall of 1862 to a farm near Hickman, Ky. In May, 1861, the subject of this sketch enlisted as a private in the confederate army, and after about fourteen months of service was honorably discharged for disability July 23, 1862. Among his highly prized and interesting papers is a copy of his commission as caption of militia, signed by the lamented Governor Isham G. Harris.

“Uncle Tom” as he was familiarly called, visited his relatives and friends in Texas about seven years ago, then returned to his Kentucky home, and in April of this year came out to permanently reside with his son in this city. He was for many years a consistent and upright member of the Methodist Episcopal church, strong in his faith, and in his daily life exemplified his firm and unchanging belief and devotion to its doctrines. He was plain, outspoken, honest, a true Southern man, with few faults and many virtues; and during his short stay among us made many friends and won the respect of all. To his bereaved relatives we tender sincere sympathy in their irreparable loss. (Editor: Buried in the Old City Cemetery.)