[p. 699] who has resided in his comfortable home at No. 492 Highland Avenue, New Castle, since 1904, is one of the substantial citizens of Lawrence County, owning the old family farm of 200 acres, situated near Hillsville, on which he lived for many years previously. He was born December 15, 1850, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Phebe A. (Brown) Williams, and a grandson of John Williams, and a great-grandson of Thomas Williams.
Thomas Williams was born near Hot Springs, Va., and his son, John, came to Lawrence County and settled in Mahoning Township before one stick of timber had been cut on his 200 acres of land. A short time prior to this, in 1793, Major Edward Wright. the maternal great-grandfather, settled near what is now Hillsville. These two families had much to do with promoting the development of the country, owning large bodies of land in several Townships and being patrons of churches and schools.
William Williams, father of Chalmers W., died in 1883. He was one of the founders and a charter member of the Zoar Baptist Church of Hillsville. He was twice married, and five of his eight children survive, namely: William B., who is an attorney, at Lapeer, Mich.; Chalmers W., Ida M., who is the wife of David N. Allison, of Nashua, Pa.; Sarah E., who is the wife of Rev. Robert H. Tracey, of Hubbard, Ohio, where he is pastor of the Baptist Church, and Lizzie E., who is the wife of Albert M. Hoffmaster, of North Beaver Township. They own and reside on the original tract owned by her great-grandfather, Major Wright, and now known as "The Century Home."
Chalmers W. Williams grew to manhood in North Beaver Township, securing a good practical education first in the township schools, then in a private school at Mount Jackson, Pa., and later at Poland Seminary, Poland, Ohio. For four winters he taught school in Mahoning County and Lawrence County, two in each, after which he settled on the farm near Hillsville, known as Brookdale Home, where he engaged rather extensively, for a number of years, in breeding Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. He was numbered with the most successful livestock breeders of this section.
On December 31, 1873, Mr. Williams was married to Essie Hazen, who was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Oliver J. and Rachel (Lutton) Hazen. and a granddaughter of Nathaniel Hazen, who was an early settler in Shenango Township, where the Hazens became people of wealth and importance. Of the children of Oliver J. Hazen and wife, three survive: Delilah, who is the wife of William F. Douds, of New Castle; Ruth L., who is the widow of Dr. J. C. McKee, formerly of New Castle, and Mrs. Williams. To the above marriage four children were born, as follows: Grace, who married Sanford E. Fisher, lives at East Liverpool, Ohio; William H., who is a graduate of the mechanical engineering department of the Pennsylvania State College, is located near Tyrone, Pa.; Charles H., who is also a graduate of the above school, and Frank C., who attends the New Castle High School. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the First Baptist Church at New Castle, of which he is one of the trustees. In politics, he is affiliated with the Republican party.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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