WIlliams Family Sketch

Joseph McNeil Williams can boast that Coshocton County has been home for eight generations of Williams family. The first Williams lived in the county on April 23, 1818, when he was allowed pension for military service during the American Revolution.

L-R: Mary Elizabeth Smith, Mary Abbott, Joseph, David, Joseph Abbott Williams (Photo taken about 1946.)

John Williams was born in 1753 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He fought in the Indian Wars as well as the duration of the Revolution. With his first wife, John had three known children: Mathew, John and Mary. His second wife, the widow Elizabeth Sharon Greene, had two children, James and Sarah. Four more children were born to John and Elizabeth in Virginia: William Greene, Joseph, Sharon and a daughter, Hepsabeth. John died September 7,1833, and Elizabeth, September 19, 1840.

Family history states that William Greene Williams, who left farming to become a surveyor, followed his father to Coshocton County. William, born December 25, 1800, Winchester County, Virginia, became a popular Coshocton County politician. He served as surveyor from 1824 to 1830 and county treasurer 1835 to 1846. His marriage to Margaret Knoff, born November 18, 1802, in New Jersey, took place in the county, March 13, 1823. Their children were: Melinda, Elizabeth, John, Mary Louisa, twins Joseph Sharon and James (who died in infancy), and William Greene, Jr. Williams, Sr. died March 22, 1856, and Margaret, February 25,1859.

Joseph Sharon was born July 10, 1836, and married July 10, 1857. His wife, Mary Jane, was the daughter of George F. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Cassingham born June 29, 1838. They had six children: William, Belle, Frank, David, Agnes and Carl. Joseph was a grocer on Walnut Street and died June 21, 1909. He was preceded in death by his wife, January 21, 1896.

David was born to them on April 4, 1865. On November 11, 1886, he married Emma Genora Cox, daughter of Elgy and Roxanna (Tilton) Cox, born October 11, 1867. Emma died of consumption, November 20, 1897, leaving three small children: Nelle Madden, born March 19,1888; Clark Everson, born March 25, 1890; and Joseph McNeil, born January 17, 1893. David Williams, Sr., owned and operated a drug store for forty years.

Nelle rnarried Louis Kossuth Beach February 29, 1912. They had no children. She died January 17, 1980.

Clark married Ethel Kuntz, May 28, 1917. They were parents of: Clark, Marjorie and Nell.

Joseph married Mary Elizabeth Abbott, daughter of Frederick and Mary Ann (Magness) Abbott on October 4, 1917, at the Presbyterian Manse in Coshocton. They raised three children to adulthood: David Gordon, born March 21, 1921; Joseph Abbott, born November 6, 1924; and, Mary Elizabeth, born April 10, 1928. Mary Elizabeth (Abbott) Williams was born October 16, 1894, and died March 23, 1983.

Son David married Shirley Voshall June 7, 1947. Their children are Anne and David.

Joseph married Eloise Davidson September 26, 1953. Their children are Shawn, Joseph, Mary and Christopher. Shawn is married to Randy Morris; their children are Emily, Katharine and Mary. Joseph is married to Shari Merkle; their children are Joseph and Russell. Mary's husband is Michael Dugan.

Daughter Mary Elizabeth married John Smith, October 10, 1947. Their children are John, Joseph and Julie. Joseph is married to Barbara Sample. Their children are Jennifer and Jacqueline.

Jacqueline Smith is the youngest Williams descendant in eight generations and 170 years to live in Coshocton County.