John Williamson, one of the prominent and substantial
citizens of Macoupin County, who resides on his handsome farm of 160 acres,
situated in section 5, Gillespie township, was born in County Donegal,
Ireland, January 1, 1835, and is a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Martin)
Williamson.
Richard Williamson was also a native of County Donegal,
Ireland, where he spent his entire life, being actively engaged in the
pursuits of general farming. He married Elizabeth Martin, who was also a
native of Ireland, and nine children were born to them, three of whom died
in infancy. Those living are as follows: John, whose name heads this brief
notice; Samuel, who resides in Canada; and Eliza Jane (Montgomery) and
Richard, who are residents of Scotland. Our subject also had two brothers,
Richard and Thomas, who reached the years of manhood and died in Ireland.
John Williamson came to America in 1858, locating in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where he secured employment as a laborer, which occupation he
followed for two years and in 1860 came to Macoupin County, Illinois, where
he worked a farm which was owned by his uncle. In 1881 he purchased his
present farm, of which about one-half is in timber, and has since been
actively engaged in the cultivation of the property, his principal crop
being com; he also devotes much time to the raising of stock.
In
1859 Mr. Williamson married Martha McCoach, a native of Ireland, born in the
same county as was our subject. She is a daughter of James and Elizabeth
McCoach, who were natives and lifelong residents of Ireland. Our subject's
wife came to America with her sister. Mr. Williamson and wife are the
parents of six children, two of whom, Eliza and Robert, are deceased. Those
living are as follows: Richard, of Staunton township, Macoupin County, who
married Laura McKitrich, and has three children — John L., Maude A. and
Martha V.; John J. engaged in farming in Madison County, Illinois, who
married Margaret Bell, and has eight children — William, Harry, Walter
(deceased), Robert, Belle (deceased), Mary, Agnes and Mathew; and Mathew and
Mary, who reside with their parents.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 432-437.
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