[p. 587] the leading dry goods and notion merchant at New Wilmington and one of the town's most representative citizens, was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1855, and is a son of Charles V. and Mary (Cabott) Williams.
Charles V. Williams was a son of Sam N. Williams, who belonged to an old English Quaker family that settled near Philadelphia in 1700. Charles V. subsequently became a resident of Lawrence County.
J. Frank Williams obtained his primary education in Lawrence County, but at the age of eight years went to Philadelphia, and during his five years of residence in that city enjoyed excellent school advantages. This was followed by two years of attendance in the High School at West Middlesex, Mercer County, and completed his education after his final return to New Wilmington. Mr. Williams received his first business training in a dry goods store at New Wilmington, where he remained for six years, going then to New Castle, where he served as a clerk in a dry goods store for eight years. Mr. Williams then embarked in business for himself and in association with Mr. Blevins bought the stock of Samuel Elliott and continued in business under the firm name of Williams & Blevins for five years, at the end of this period purchasing Mr. Blevins' interest. Since then Mr. Williams has been in business under his own name and in his line controls the largest business in the place.
In 1876 Mr. Williams was married to Catherine Kelly, who is a daughter of Boyd W. and Catherine (Cox) Kelly. They have four children, namely: Charles B., who is a practicing physician at Sharon, Pa.; Edna P., who married George A. Smith, and who has three children—Eugene, Aten and Katherine; and Clara E. and Frances K., both of whom are in school. Mr. Williams and family belong to the Second United Presbyterian Church at New Wilmington. He is a member of the Town Council. Mr. Williams is serving as general manager and treasurer of the New Wilmington Water Company.
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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Updated: 13 Nov 2001