Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Baraboo:

Charles H. Williams, son of Micajah and Hannah (Jones) Williams, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 21, 1818; was educated in his native city, under the famous astronomer, Prof. O. M. Mitchell, afterward Gen. Mitchell, a graduate of West Point; Mr. Williams went into service as civil engineer in Indiana, in 1836; pursued this occupation about three years, when he accepted a position in the Ohio Life Insurance & Trust Co.'s Bank, at Cincinnati, of which his father was President; in the spring of 1843, he went to Toledo, Ohio, and opened a commission house under the firm name of Winslow & Williams, continuing in this business for three years. He was married Jan. 12, 1846, in St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio, to Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Joanna (Terrell) Thomas; they had five children-Micajah T., Benjamin (who died Jan. 29, 1851), Charles H.; Samuel M., and Alice (died May 3, 1859). After the death of his father, in June, 1844, he became the administrator of the estate; Mr. W. first came to Wisconsin in 1842, returning again in 1846, and locating in the city of Milwaukee, where he remained until the spring of 1853, when he settled on a farm in the town of Freedom (now Excelsior), locating where he now resides in the fall of 1870. While in Milwaukee, he was appointed Receiver of the United States Land Office by President Taylor, and served in this capacity four years; was also a member of the Common Council of the city of Milwaukee, and served one term; was Treasurer of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad during 1858 and 1859; has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; also School Treasurer in the town of Excelsior for a number of years; he is a life member of the State and County Agricultural Societies, and for ten years a member of the Executive Committee of the former; served as President of the county society several terms. Has been engaged as a farmer and breeder of improved stock in this county, in connection with other business, from 1853 to this time-devoted his time and farm largely to breeding short-horn cattle, one of the most profitable branches of farming-and laboring all these years to induce the farmers of the county and the State to engage in this very important branch of agriculture. Concerning the military record of the subject of this sketch, Ge, Guppey, of Portage, writes: "Maj. Williams raised Co. F, 23d W.V.I.; was the first captain of that company, was promoted to major of the regiment beofre it was mustered into the service of the United States, and was on active duty in that position till Febv. 25, 1863, when he resigned on account of ill health. He was, in all respects, an excellent officer, brave in the field, and hard working in the camp and on the march, to secure the comfort and efficiency od the command. His ability was rated so high that at our first attack on Vicksburg, in December, 1862, he was placed in charge of the construction of a portion of the earthworks thrown up in the night time to cover the approaches of our troops, and performed that duty with great skill; and when the attack of dec. 27 and 28 was made, Major Williams commanded the regiment-Col. Guppey being in command of an attacking column pf which the 23d formed a part, and Lieut. Col. Jussen being absent. At the capture of Post Arkansas, otherwise called Fort Hindman, Maj. Williams bore a distinguished part in the charge of the 23d, which drove the enemy from a cluster of cabins in front of his works, and forced him to flee to his entrenchments. This was the last battle in which Maj. Williams took part; and soon after it was fought, the regiment, with other forces, returned to the vacinity of Vicksburg, where Maj. Williams health soon became so impaired by the effects of hard service and a malarious climate, that he was compelled to resign, as before stated.

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