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Men Named William Williams from the Lykens Valley
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 5, 2018
The name William Williams appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument as a Private in the Civil War who joined the Heilner G.A.R. Post there after its organization.
From the 1890 Veterans’ Census of Wiconisco, Dauphin County, there is a William Williams who claimed service in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Private, with no dates of service given. Note: Click on above document to enlarge.
The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card for this William Williams, shows that this service was in an Emergency of 1862 Militia Regiment, from 13 September 1862 to 27 September 1862, a discharge at the end of the emergency. The age at the time of enrollment at Halifax was 20, suggesting a birth year of about 1842, and the residence at the time was Millersburg. Is this the same person found in the 1890 Census of Wiconisco? Perhaps.
Also on the Lykens G.A.R Monument is the name William R. Williams. This individual appears as a Private who did not join the Heilner G.A.R. Post. In searching the file at the Pennsylvania Archives, no good match has been found for this individual.
In searching the Findagrave site, a close match is found in Odd Fellow’s (I.O.O.F.) Cemetery in Lykens. There is no indication though that this was a Civil War soldier. However, the birth and death years, namely 1839 and 1915, would seem to place him in the eligible years. This William P. Williams was married to a Sarah Williams whose dates were 1840-1917.
Still another William Williams was located in the 1890 Veterans’ Census for Artz, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. This William Williams was deceased and his widow Molly Williams reported that she “could not obtain the desired information” regarding his military service. Note: Click on above document to enlarge.
Previously published on this blog was the following:
William D. Williams (1830-1864) died at White House, Virginia, on 9 June 1864, of wounds received at Cold Harbor on 3 June 1864. He was serving with the 184th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a 1st Lieutenant. A letter to his brother was published in the Citizen Standard, 25 June 1993, telling how he was killed. The letter was first published in the Miner’s Journal of Pottsville, July 1864. His brother was David Williams of Schuylkill County.
More information is sought about each of these individuals. Clearly, there is more than one person with this common name.
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1890 Census images are from Ancestry.com.
Found at Newspapers.com
The Standard(Lykens, Pennsylvania) – 07 May 1915, Fri – Page 1
DEATHS AND FUNERALS.
Wm. P. Williams died at his home on North Second Street
at 10:20 a.m. Sunday of heart failure, aged 76 years, 1 month
and 11 days. He is survived by his wife and the following
children : George of Loyalton, John of Wiconisco, Henry and
Michael of Lykens, Mary (Mrs. Jacob Weaver) , and Hattie
(Mrs. W. C. Hoover) , of Harrisburg ; Emma (Mrs. E. D.
Miller) , of Wiconisco.
Mr. Williams was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted
in Co. E. 26th Reg. Penna. Vol. Inf., May 5, 1861, and was
honorably discharged May 23rd, 1864. He was a member
of Heilner Post No. 232, G.A.R. of this place, and also of
the Brotherhood of the Wiconisco Ev. Church.
The funeral was held from the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Ed. D. Miller in Wiconisco, at 2 o’clock Wednesday
afternoon, Rev. Huvett of St. John Lutheran church
officiating. Burial took place in Odd Fellows’ cemetery.
Information from his death certificate found on Ancestry.com, indexed as
Wm. P. Williams gives his birth as 21 March 1839, Pennsylvania and his death as 2 May, 1915 Lykens, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. His parents are given as Augustus Williams and Henrietta Shumber.
William P. Williams was married to Sarah Smeltzer who was born 3 May 1840, Dauphin Co., PA and died 12 Oct 1917, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania.
Another death is found at Newspapers.com
The Standard (Lykens, Pennsylvania) – 05 Feb 1915, Fri – Page 1
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Wm. O. Williams, an aged citizen of Wiconisco, died at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. John H. Stuppy of North Second
Street on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1915, of old age, being 84 years,
4 months and 20 days. He was a native of Wales, and came to
this country when 14 years of age, locating in Wiconisco, where
he lived until about a year ago when he was taken ill and brought
to the home of his daughter.
Surviving to mourn their loss are one son, Thomas of Wiconisco,
three daughters, Lydia, (Mrs. John Stuppy) of town, Sarah, (Mrs.
George Johnson) of Elgin, Ill., Jeannette at Harrisburg, also 11
grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Fraternally deceased was a member of I.O.O.F., No. 533 of this
place.
The funeral was held last Saturday from his late home
conducted by Rev. C. S. Jones.
Information from his death certificate found on Ancestry.com, indexed as
William R. Williams (not Wm. O. Williams as published in the newspaper)
gives his birth as 7 Sept 1830, Wales and his death as 27 Jan 1915, Lykens,
Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. He was a widower at the time of his death.
Besides the two men sharing the name William Williams they were both miners,
and according to the newspaper they both died on North Second Street in
Lykens, Pennsylvania in 1915 (though about 4 months apart).