William D. Williams 1846-1876  
Categories: Alfred, New York, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 32, No 37, p 2, Sep. 14, 1876.
  DEATH OF WM D. WILLIAMS
  Brother Williams, in early childhood, came to know Christ as his Savior.   At the age of fourteen, he was baptized by Eld. Lucius Crandall, and became a member of, and an earnest worker in the Watson Seventh-day Baptist church.   The church seeing and zeal, deemed him capable of doing good in instructing others, so gave him license to preach.   Hearing the call of a perishing world, of the church and his Lord, after some struggle, he yielded himself to what he felt to be his life work, preaching the gospel.
  Deeming a thorough education essential, as a preparation for that work, he resolved, though without means, to enter upon and complete a full course of study in Alfred University.   He at once, with a will and earnestness, entered upon this work, teaching and laboring to pay his way, doing a thorough work up to the completion of the Junior Year, when he was stricken down by the hand of sickness, which separated him from the class and the work he had come to so love, that it was dearer than life.   Often, even up to within a few hours of his death, he would say he was ready and willing to die, but it did not seem possible   to give up the work he so much loved.
  When the rest of the class graduated, the University conferred upon him the degree of A. B., as a token of esteem.   Bro. Williams, while pursuing his studies, faithfully maintained his religious integrity.   He labored as opportunities offered, in holding meetings and preaching, thus winning souls to Christ.
  For over four years, employing every instrumentality within his power, and receiving the most careful attention and aid of a loving and ever faithful wife, assisted by many kind friends, he struggled and fought against the foul destroyer, disease; sometimes seeming to gain a victory, but only to find himself again soon defeated and left weaker, until at last unable to rally, he submissively yielded to his condition, and upon First-day morning, Sept. 3d, 1876, he departed this life, in the 31st year of his age.   Reason remained to the last, he gave a clear evidence of a complete victory, though Jesus Christ, over the last enemy, death.
  While connected with the school at Alfred, he had his membership changed from the Watson to the 1st Alfred church, where he was a member at the time of his death.   In the death of Bro. Williams, his companion has lost a kind, faithful, and true husband; his mother, an affectionate and worthy son; his brothers and sisters, a loving brother.   As a college class, we have lost one that was one of our clearest, best thinkers, and an ever true and faithful class mate.   As a denomination, we have lost another of our best and noblest young men.   What is our loss we believe to be his eternal gain.
  The funeral services were held at the church in Watson on Second-day, Sept. 4th, where a sermon was preached by J. L. Huffman to a large congregation, from Job 14: 14, "If a man die, shall he live again?"     J. H. L.