Williams, Elihu Stephen

Miami Union

12/3/1903

Companies A & H 71^st OVI

Captain E.S. Williams succumbed to the inevitable Tuesday evening a few minutes after 8 o’clock, after gallantly battling for months with the disease that had him in its grip. An operation a few days before his death showed he was suffering with cancer of the bladder and was past all human aid.

Elihu S. Williams was one of the best known and liked men in the county. His life has been one of strenuous endeavor, and happily crowned with success in every field of work.

He was the son of Rev. Henry and Elisabeth (Pettigrew) Williams, and was born in Bethel Township, Clark County, January 24, 1835. His early life was full of struggles and hard work, though the latter was his portion from choice all his days. He taught school at Brandt in the winter of 1851-52 and at the Kepper school house the following winter. He read law in Dayton and was admitted to the bar in 1861.

Mr. Williams assisted in raising Co. A. 71^st O.V.I., and he was commissioned first lieutenant of the company. He was a Fort Donnelson, led the company into the bloody battle of Shiloh, and soon was promoted to the captaincy.  In 1863 he was placed in charge of the post at Carthage, Tenn., and soon after detailed by Governor Andrew Johnson to raise troops.

He remained in Tennessee after the war, practicing law, and was appointed attorney general of the 6^th judicial circuit. He also served two terms in the Tennessee legislature.

Captain Williams came to Troy in 1875 and formed a law partnership with his brother, H.H. Williams. He was elected to congress in 1896 from the old Third district, which was several hundred democratic, but Captain Williams won by 1133 over R.M. Murray and was re-elected in 1898. He served his district faithfully and was especially alive to the interested of his constituents.

He engaged in the publication of the Troy Buckeye at the close of his second term in congress and continued to edit that paper with conspicuous ability until he sold it in 1899.

Captain Williams was married to Miss Alice Gordon, in Smith County, Tenn. in 1866, and she and one daughter, Olive survive him. Of his father’s family, two brothers, Judge H.H. Williams of Troy and J.C. Williams of New Carlisle, survive. The Captain’s only son, Henry, died in 1885.