Mary Cooley was the eldest child of John Cooley and Martha Snodgrass, born circa 1809 in Wythe County, Virginia. Mary's parents moved from VA to Fayette County, Indian circa 1823.

Mary married James Williams on 28 Oct 1830 in the small town of Columbia in Fayette County; ceremony solemnized by her cousin the Rev John Hardy, an Episcopal Methodist circuit minister:

"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"

James and Mary moved to La Porte County, Indiana by 1831, along with Mary's extended Cooley and Snodgrass families.

Mary's father John Cooley died in La Porte Co, IN in Jan 1845, where Mary was listed in her father's Last Will as "Polly Williams". Her mother Martha died in La Porte Co in Dec 1849.

James and Mary remained in La Porte County until just after the Civil War, when they moved to Barry Co, Michigan. Three of their sons (George, Ben, & Charles) and two sons-in-law, served during the Civil War.

Mary died in Bowens Mill, Yankee Springs Twp, Barry County, Michigan in Mar 1870. James and Mary's farm was located just to SE of Coman Cemetery, where James owned a plot, and from family history are known to be buried together in Coman Cemetery although are no markers.

Mary's name was listed as "Elizabeth Cooley" by her granddaughter Alice Winters Davis in 1913 on her mother's death certificate, likely Mary's middle name - Alice was 17 years old when her grandmother died.

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