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Williams Family Cemetery ~ James E. Williams ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Williams, James E.
LAST NAME: Williams FIRST NAME: James MIDDLE NAME: E. NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 6 Jan 1803 DIED: 13 Mar 1865 BURIED:  (Williams Family Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  Farmer; Carpenter
BIRTH PLACE:  Nashville,Tennessee
DEATH PLACE: Oregon
NOTES: 
MARRIAGE - James E. Williams md Martha Witcher 17 Oct 1925 in Knox Co., Tennessee.
1850 OR CENSUS - James Williams, age 43, occupation farmer, b. Tennessee, is enumerated with Martha, age 43, b. Virginia, along with Welsly, age 15,. b. Tennessee, Mary, age 11, b. Tennessee, Thomas, age 9, b. Tennessee, Duane, age 6, b. Missouri, and Martha, age 2, b. Oregon Territory.  Also enumerated are Jonathan Williams, age 25, b. Tennessee, and James Williams, age 20, b. Tennessee.

BIOGRAPHICAL:
(Source - Historically Speaking, Vol X, pg 2. "ARLIE HISTORY". Compiled by Jim and Nita Wilson for the Polk County Historical Society April 11, 1991)
"James E. and Martha (Witcher) Williams and eight children came to Oregon in 1845 in a train of 47 wagons and it took them six months to make the trip. They were part of the wagon train that took the “Terrible Meek Cutoff Trail”. The family located in Portland. An old tree, measuring 14 feet in circumference, on Morrison Street, provided them with shelter until James built a home. He filed a claim in that vicinity, but not liking it there, decided to follow wagon train friends to Polk County, arriving in the spring of 1846. Their first night they camped on the banks of the Luckiamute River. A heavy rainstorm came, flooding the camp and forced the, to move their camp to higher ground during the night. This is apparently why they settled several miles south of the river and took up a DLC there – a part of which later became the townsite of Arlie. James soon had a log cabin constructed to house his family. Four more children were born to James and Martha at Arlie.
Along with his farming claim, James also occupied himself with his first choice of a trade. He did carpentry work, making cabinets and furniture for his neighbors.
A general election was held in Polk County and the Oregon Territory July 16, 1846. James E. Williams was duly elected to represent the county in the next Legislature to be held in Oregon City in December. He subsequently served two terms."
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OBITUARY: 
INSCRIPTION: 
J. E. Williams
Died
Mar 13, 1865
Aged 62 Yrs
2 Ms 7 Dys
(shares marker with Martha and Marcus)
SOURCES: 
Branigar Survey
Saucy Survey & Photographs
Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 (Ancestry)
1850 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., FA #44)
Historically Speaking, Vol X, pg 2
CONTACTS: 
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IMAGES:
     

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