James Williams was born near Brumley Creek along the "Poor Valley" in Washington County, Virginia north of Abingdon; the son of George Williams and Nancy Newhouse. When only an infant, James' family crossed the Appalachian Mountains across the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky, then northward crossing the Ohio River into Franklin County, Indiana, and in 1820 settled in the small village of Columbia in Fayette County, IN.

James married Mary Cooley on 28 Oct 1830 in the Columbia Methodist Episcopal Church, Fayette Co, Indiana:

"Be it remembered that on the 25th day of October 1830 the following marriage license issued from the office of the Fayette Circuit (to wit). State of Indiana, Fayette County. The State of Indiana to any person authorized to solemnize marriage in said County Greeting: you are hereby authorized to join James Williams & Polly Cooley by both of said County in matrimony as husband & wife according to law. William Caldwell Clerk of Fayette District Court and the seal thereof this 25th day of October 1830.
Be it further remembered that on this 18th day of December 1830 then here comes to the clerk office of the Fayette Circuit Court the Reverend John Hardy and files therein the following certificate in this behalf to wit. "I John Hardy a regularly licensed preacher of the Methodist church do hereby certify that on the 28th October 1830 I joined James Williams & Polly Cooley in matrimony as husband and wife according to law. Under my hand this 18th December 1830". Signed: John Hardy"

Rev Hardy was Mary's cousin. James and Mary moved to La Porte County, Indiana by 1831, along with Mary's extended Cooley and Snodgrass families. From 1837 to c1842, James' uncle Samuel Newhouse lived nearby in Galena Twp.

James and Mary appeared in Probate Court of Fayette Co, IN on Christmas Day 1844, following the death of James' father about a month earlier:

"James Williams to Jesse Thomas: Know to all men by these presents that James Williams and Mary Williams his wife (heir at law of George Williams late of the County of Fayette and State of Indiana deceased) in Consideration of the Sum of one hundred and fifteen dollars to these in hand paid by Jesse Thomas of the County of Fayette........the Said James Williams and Mary Williams his wife who hereby Relinquishes her Right of Dower in the premises have hereunto Set their hands and Seal this 25th day of December in the year 1844."

James and Mary remained in La Porte Co. until just after the Civil War, when they moved to Barry County, Michigan. Mary died in Mar 1870 in Yankee Springs, Barry Co, Michigan.

James remarried Elisabeth Betsie Briggs from New York in Sept 1873 - Betsie died 1888 in Martin, Allegan Co, MI. James died in Wayland, Allegan, Michigan in Dec 1891; presumably at the residence of his daughter Sarah Shay.

James and Mary's farm was located just SE of Coman Cemetery. James bought a plot in Coman Cemetery, and from family history are known to be buried together although are no markers.

Children of James and Mary:

*Nancy Jane Williams, 1831 – 1913, m. Thomas Winters
*John Nelson Williams, 1833 – 1913, m. Amanda Finley
*Martha Ann Williams, 1835 – 1913, m. Erasmus Shedd
*George Washington Williams, 1837 – 1911, m. Ann Auten
*Benjamin Franklin Williams, 1839 – 1895, m. Esther Teeter
*Elizabeth E Williams, 1839 – 1930, m. David Webb
*Sarah H Williams, 1843 – 1894, m. David Shay
*Mary Mariam "Mollie" Williams, 1845 – 1922, m. Jesse Knapp, m. Charles Bixler
*Charles Wesley Williams, 1849 – 1918, m. Sophia Berry
*James Leslie Williams Jr, 1849 – 1918, m. Mary Brooks
*Elmina (Mina) E Williams, 1855 – 1937, m. Eldridge Burtt