Amariah Williams

Amariah married Olive Read. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

https://archive.org/stream/industrialchicag03good/industrialchicag03good_djvu.txt
Read Amariah Williams. A name very frequently encountered by the student of lumber history in connection with Chicago is that of Read A. Williams, who was identified with the business at a date early enough to admit of an entrance into the "pioneer" class. Mr. Williams was a Yankee from the Nutmeg State, having been born at Mansfield, Conn., in 1808. In his early youth, however, his parents removed to Morrisville, Madison County, N. Y., where he obtained such, education as was afforded by the district school and local academy, combined with extensive reading, for his disposition prompted a research into all the available literature of the day, with a view to a truthful knowledge of men and things, and their proper relations to society and the world in general. His first business venture was in general merchan- dise in connection with his younger brother, Dwight T. Williams, at Morrisville, N. Y., continuing in mercantile pursuits until 1843, when he came West and engaged in the buying of produce and furs in the country, and finding market for them in the young but thriving city of Chicago, until in 1846 he entered into partnership with James Leonard, and the firm of Leonard & Williams established a lumber yard on Randolph Street, near the corner of Clinton Street, the depot then being located on the west side of the Kinzie Street bridge. In 1851 Mr. T. M. Avery purchased the Leonard interest, and the firm became Williams & Avery, and so continued for about ten years, the business proving very profitable. Upon the dissolution of this partnership in i8=;6, he for a year or more engaged with his brother John M. in the purchase of real estate and building. Mr. Williams was for a time associated with Mr. W. D. Houghteling in a general grain and commission business, until about 1860, when he became con- nected with the late Martin Ryerson as business manager of the extensive yards of that gentleman, and so resumed his connection with the lumber business of tlris city. Mr. Williams had the reputation of being the best salesman on the Chicago market, and it was claimed for him that he could secure better prices for the same grade of product than any other man. So well was his reputation established that during his employ by Mr. Ryerson, he commanded a $6,OOO salary, which in those days was abnormally large. His ability to present a subject with clearness, his facility as a correspondent, and his polite address, won for him a host of friends, and his success in building up a Western and Southwestern trade was phenomenal. His trade with St. Louis merchants was the envy of competitors. He was an exceptionally broad-minded, active and progressive business man of intelligent perceptions. About this time his health failed, and in 1867 he removed to Red Wing, Minn., where he engaged in money-loaning and real estate until his death, in 1872. Mr. Williams was married at Morrisville, N. Y., to Miss Celista Haughton, of that place, by whom he had four children, the only son dying at an early age. Of the three daughters the eldest is the wife of J. Newton Ninde, editor of the Mississippi Valley Lumberman, of Minneapolis, Minn.; the second daughter is the wife of Lyman J. Boynton, of Red Wing, Minn., and the third daughter is the wife of Hugh M. Wilson, business manager of the Railway Age, of Chicago. The widow of Mr. Williams is at this time residing at Red Wing. Mr. Williams was in 1848 elected an alderman of the Fifth Ward, an office which he held for the term of two years. He was an ardent Republican, and an active anti-slavery advocate, and became connected with the Republican party at its inception, having previously voted for James Birney, the abolition candidate for the presidency.

Read married Celista Haughton in Morrisville, Madison Co, New York, USA. Celista (daughter of William B. Haughton and Fanny Hoard) was born in Jul 1826 in Morrisville, Madison Co, New York, USA; died on 13 Dec 1907 in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois, USA; was buried in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois, USA (Graceland Cemetery). [Group Sheet]

Agnes married John Newton Nind, Sr. on 12 Dec 1878 in Red Wing, Goodhue Co, Minnesota, USA. John (son of James Gardiner Nind and Mary Clarke) was born on 11 Mar 1854 in St. Charles, Kane Co, Illinois, USA; died in Dec 1924. [Group Sheet]

Fanny married Lyman J. Boynton about 1885. Lyman was born in Jun 1857 in New York, USA. [Group Sheet]

Olive married Hugh Monroe Wilson about 1890. Hugh was born on 29 Jun 1866 in Jacksonville, Morgan Co, Illinois, USA; died on 9 Sep 1919 in New York, USA. [Group Sheet]

Helen married Dudley Kimball French. Dudley (son of Henry Dudley French and Ellen Mabel Kimball) was born on 1 May 1881 in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois, USA; died in 1960. [Group Sheet]

John married Mabel Janet Dunn. Mabel was born in Oct 1884 in Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet]