Born Berlingen, Daun, Rhineland-Pfalz, Prussia.

________________
MARTIN WILLIAMS

Passes Away at the Home of His Daughter, Mrs. Peter Weber.

Martin Williams, another of McHenry township's oldest residents, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Peter Weber, who resides on Sherman's hill just west of town, on Friday evening, April 16, 1909.
The deceased for some time past, owing to advanced age, had been in a very feeble condition, necessitating almost constant care, which was very willingly bestowed upon him by his daughter, with whom he and his aged companion have been making their home during the past several months. The weight of his many years bore upon him with such severity during the last two months of his earthly life that his end had been looked for some time past, the angel of death coming as a sweet relief to his sufferings. Altho (sic) a great sufferer he was never heard to offer a complaint during all his illness, bearing his pain as only a man of his calibre (sic) could.
The deceased reached the ripe old age of eighty-one years, having been born in Berlingen, Germany, on April 30, 1828. In the year 1846, when only a boy of eighteen, he came to America, settling first in the state of Wisconsin, where he made his home for a number of years. Later on he moved to this state, engaging in farming on a farm near Volo, Lake county. He continued to work his farm until sixteen years ago, when he retired from an active life to a life of rest. He moved to Johnsburgh where he continued to reside up until the time of going to the home of his daughter last fall.
On October 29, 1856, he took unto himself a life companion in the person of Miss Katherina M. Jacobs. To this union were born eleven children, namely:
John,
Kathryn,
Peter,
Mary,
Barbara,
Joseph,
Eva,
Henry,
Jacob,
Anna,
and Elizabeth.
Of these four have preceded the father in death, they being
Mary,
Joseph,
Jacob,
and Anna.
The balance of the children, all of whom, with the exception of Mother Superior of St. Clara's convent at Denver, Colo., and known as Sister Jerome, reside in this immediate vicinity, are left with the aged mother and widow to mourn the loss of one they loved.
Mr. Williams possessed all the sterling qualities which go to make up a good citizen and man, being strictly upright, straight forward, and honest. He was always attending to his own affairs and never meddling with others' business. He was of a quiet and retiring nature, which he so beautifully exemplified during the last few months among us.
The remains were taken to Johnsburgh Tuesday morning where the last sad rites were performed by Rev. Wolfgarten at St. John's Catholic church, interment taking place in the cemetery bearing the same name. The remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends who had gathered to pay their last tribute of esteem to one they had learned to deeply love. May his soul rest in peace.

CARD OF THANKS.
We hereby wish to thank all those who so kindly assisted us in this, the hour of our bereavement, for by so doing, you have poured solace and comfort into our souls and made our burdens lighter, and may you all be spared for a long time from a similar ordeal, is the wish of MRS. MARTIN WILLIAMS,
AND CHILDREN.

The McHenry Plaindealer; McHenry, Illinois.
April 22, 1909; Page 1.
dm wms (#47395868)