Cornelius Williams (September 16, 1819March 27, 1891) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

farmer, politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

pioneer. He was a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

, representing

Kenosha County Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 169,151 as of the 2020 census, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin. The county shares the same name as the city of Kenosh ...

in the 1880 session.

Biography

Cornelius Williams was born September 16, 1819, in

Copake, New York Copake is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 3,346 at the 2020 US census, down from 3,615 at the 2010 census. The town derives its name from a lake, which was known to the natives as ''Cook-pake'', or ''Ack-kook ...

. He was raised and educated on his father's farm and worked for several years as a teacher in

Columbia County, New York Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,570. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the ...

. In 1854, he traveled west to

Kenosha County, Wisconsin Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 169,151 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin. The county shares the same ...

, and purchased a tract of undeveloped land in the town of

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

. He would cultivate this land into a farm and remain there for the rest of his life. By the time of his death, the farm had grown to 350 acres. Williams was always a staunch

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

in politics. He served on the Bristol school board and the Kenosha County board of supervisors, and, in 1879, he was elected to the

on the Republican ticket. He served only one term, and his district comprised all of Kenosha County. He did not run for re-election in 1880. He died at his home in Bristol on March 27, 1891.

Personal life and family

The Williams family were of

Welsh American Welsh Americans ( cy, Americanwyr Cymreig) are an American ethnic group whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Wales. In the 2008 U.S. Census community survey, an estimated 1.98 million Americans had Welsh ancestry, 0.6% of the total U.S ...

descent. Cornelius Williams married Catherine Trafford, who was also a native of Columbia County, New York. They had four children together, but their first two children died in the 1846–1860 cholera pandemic. Only one child survived them, their son Clarence. Clarence E. Williams also went on to serve on the Kenosha County board of supervisors and the Bristol school board.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1879)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 4, 1879

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Cornelius 1819 births 1891 deaths People from Columbia County, New York People from Bristol, Kenosha County, Wisconsin Farmers from Wisconsin County supervisors in Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 19th-century American politicians