ANDREW J. WILLIAMS, a native of Johnson County, Ind., was born
October 4, 1850, and is a son of James and Juda (Wheeler) Williams.
The father was a native of Overton County, Tenn.; was born December
23, 1811; the mother is a native of Adair County, Ky., and was born
in 1816. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He
received a common school education. He was educated for the law,
being a student with Judge Williamson, of Des Moines, Iowa, and was
admitted to the bar about 1875. He removed to St. Joseph, Mo., and
remained there in the practice of his profession two years, when he
returned to Des Moines, and remained there three years. He then
returned to Indiana, and settled in Johnson County. September 21,
1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Serena E. Beard, a daughter
of John W. and Nancy (Farmbrough) Beard. This union was blessed
with the following children: John F., born September 19, 1881;
Thurlow W., December 4, 1882; James C. (deceased), February 5,
1884; Fleetwood P., April 15, 1885; Nellie L., August 3, 1886, and
Lulu M., January 23, 1888. The mother of these children was born
April 2,1855. At the age of seventeen years, he began the battle
for life for himself, by teaching school in Indiana three winter
terms, and then went to Iowa where he taught two winter terms. He
then went to Kansas, taught one winter term, and returned to
Indiana, and commenced dealing in poultry, shipping to New York
City. He remained in this business one year, and then returned to
Iowa. His wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. In
politics, Mr. Williams is a republican, casting his first
presidential vote for Hayes and Wheeler. He now owns 360 acres of
good land.
Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker
Banta, D.D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago, IL: Brant & Fuller, 1888.