Daughter of Lewis Haney Williams & Susan Peters. In 1854, She moved with her parents to a farm near Lees Summit, MO. In 1856, they settled on a farm near Willow Springs, Douglas Co, KS. She united with the Baptist church at the age of 14 years and always retained her membership with this church, although after she moved to Cedar Point, she was active in the Presbyterian Church. She was a Past Worthy Matron of the order of Eastern Star and was a charter member of the Chapter at Parkerville, Morris Co, KS. She was married to James Fletcher Cress on 6 Oct 1863 in Douglas Co, KS. Ezra Johnson, MG, officiated. They moved to Morris Co, KS soon after their marriage and were on a farm near Latimer on Clark's Creek. A few years later, they homesteaded a farm near Parkerville, KS where they lived until 1900 when they moved to Cedar Point, KS.

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Chase County Leader (Cottonwood Falls, Kansas)
24 Mar 1924, Tue

MRS. JAMES FLETCHER CRESS

Eliza Emmeline Williams was born November 6, 1844, in Lawrence county, Kentucky, and died March 19, 1925, at Cedar Point, Kansas, at the age of 80 years, 4 months and 13 days. In 1854 she moved with her parents to a farm near Lee's Summit, Missouri. In 1855, they moved to Kansas, which at that time was a new territory and just opened to settlement. On account of the border warfare they returned to Missouri. In 1856 they returned to Kansas and settled on a farm at Willow Springs, near Lawrence. She united with the Baptist church at the age of 14 years and has always retained her membership in this church although since coming to Cedar Point she has been active in the Presbyterian church.

On October 6, 1863, she was united in marriage to James Fletcher Cress, who passed away June 7, 1907. To this union ten children were born. In 1863, they came to live in Morris county, Kansas, on Clark's Creek, near Latimer, and a few years later they homesteaded a farm a few miles south of Parkerville, Kansas, where they lived until 1900, when they moved to Cedar Point.

She is a past worthy matron and charter member of the Eastern Star chapter at Parkerville.

She leaves to morn [sic] her death, two sisters, Mrs. M. H. Burton of Parkerville, Kansas; and Mrs. A. M. Smith of Eureka, Kansas; and ten children: A. M. Cress of Clements; B. F. Cress of Council Grove; P. W. Cress of Perry, Okla.; E. L. Cress of Brentwood, Ark.; Blanche Cress of Cedar Point; Mrs. C. H. Munsell of Council Grove; Mrs. J. B. Hanna of Emporia; L. E. Cress of Florence; Mrs. E. A. Boblits of Elmdale and C. F. Cress of Liberal; forty-two grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Cress is one of the oldest settlers in Kansas, having came here the first time over 70 years ago and has seen the state grow from a wilderness to one of leading commonwealths of the union. Her life has been an example of self sacrifice and devotion to others throughout. It has been consistent in thought and action with the faith in our Lord Jesus which she taught her children. She lived beautifully and died beautifully, serene in her assurance of a great love. We cannot mourn we know -- that she is happy in the realization of her hopes.

Just as the sunsets slips into the sea
She slipped away
Peaceful and glad in the joy yet to be in another day
She did not fear what she might look upon
She had the vision of seeing the dawn.
Resting in Jesus she sweetly lives on
Tho' gone away.