Amanda (Abbitt) Willaims was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on September 2, 1844 to John Vance Abbitt and Katurah Ballenger. When just six years old she crossed the plains with her parents walking almost the entire way as the motion of the wagon over the rough trail made her motion sick. They stop at Fort Ogden and stayed there about three years before moving on and arriving at Oregon City in 1852. Her father had Consumption (TB) and they were hoping the over land journey and the change in climate would do him some good but he died that next spring after they arrived in Oregon City.
Amanda met and married William Henry Williams on August 11, 1859; this would make her just short of her 15th birthday. She would have two sons Richard and Charles there at Oregon City before moving to Wasco County and eight mile farm where she would have twelve move children. Amanda would give birth about every other year for 26 Years. The children are as follows: Richard (1861-1938), Charles Fred (1862-1930), Ida Bradley (1864-1897)), Kate Garrison (1866-1928), Hester Harris(1868-1957), Nellie Harris (1869-1907), Frank (1873-1950), Jeremiah "Jay" (1874-1941), Harry (1876-1933), Lewis (1878-1967), Clyde (1880-1958), Hazel Creighton (1882-1956), Iva Dufur (1884-1952), Clara (1886-1973).
Thumb Nail Sketches of Pioneer Women mentions Amanda helping neighbors with sick children and giving birth." And Mrs. Williams – if she never did another thing but send out to the world her own fine family – may retire with honors."
Her son Harry took over the farm when Amanda and her youngest daughter, Clara, moved to The Dalles in with another daughter Hazel Creighton. On January 1, 1933 Amanda passes away at The Dalles Hospital not knowing her son Harry had passed away the same day in a car wreck hurrying to her bedside.
Besides her children she also leaves two sisters; Trilla Hatch and Catherine Kelly and a brother John Abbott