Samuel William, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1829, and the grandfather was Anderson Williams, who removed with his family westward to Illinois about 1835, locating in Detroit township, Pike county, when few settlements had been made within the borders of this county. He entered land in this locality and opened up a farm. He shared with the early settlers in the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life and aided in reclaiming the wild land for the purpose of civilization. He also built a sawmill and cut timber for the old plank road and lived a life of usefulness and activity. He reared his family here and later removed to Missouri, settling at Sedalia, where he spent his last years. Samuel Williams, Sr., father of our subject, came to Pike county when a young lad, and was here reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life, sharing with the family in the hardships incident to a life in a frontier district. He gained practical experience in the work of the fields so that he was well qualified to carry on business when he started out in life on his own account. He married Miss Eunice Hatch, a native of this county. Through much of his life he followed merchandising, and was a trader, capitalist and money-loaner. He reared his family and spent the greater part of his life in Pike county, where he died in 1897. His wife still survives him and now resides in Detroit. In their family were three children: Frances, now the wife of Thomas Hall, a resident farmer of Detroit; Clayton A. Williams, who is engaged in farming in Newburg township; and Samuel A., of this review. The last named was reared at the old farm home, and in the country schools acquired his education, save that he has added largely to his knowledge through experience, reading and observation in later years. He remained with his father until he had attained his majority, after which he began working by the month at a salary of fifteen dollars. He was employed in this way for five or six years, embracing every opportunity that would improve his business condition. In Newburg township on the 14th of August, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Cora Jane Eagle, who was born in this county and was a daughter of John H. C. Eagle, a farmer of Newburg township. After their marriage the young couple took up their abode upon a tract of land which Mr. Williams rented, and there in connection with the work of tilling the soil he engaged in buying and feeding stock, becoming one of the well known stock-dealers of the county, carrying on the business on an extensive scale. He shipped on an average of about fifty carloads of stock a year. He is today justly classed with the active, practical and prosperous farmers of Detroit township. He controls five hundred acres, of which he keeps two hundred acres for pasturage and he now has about one hundred head of cattle and a large number of hogs, and his annual shipments bring him a gratifying financial return. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have a family of two children, Inez Fern and V. Elmer. They also lost a daughter, Hazel, who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Williams has been a lifelong democrat, and his first presidential ballot was cast for Grover Cleveland. He has been elected and re-elected to the office of supervisor until he is now serving for the third term and he is president of the county board. In the discharge of his official duties he has ever been prompt and faithful, and his record in office is one above reproach. His wife is a member of the Christian church; and Mr. Williams belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined at Milton but has since demitted to Detroit lodge. He has served through all of the chairs and is a past grand, and both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. He is also a member of the Mutual Protective League. Mr. Williams has a wide acquaintance in the county where his entire life has been passed, and where he has so directed his efforts as to win signal success in business, and at the same time gain the honor and respect of his fellowmen. His life record proves what can be accomplished by determined, indefatigable and honorable purpose. While "the race is not always to the swift nor the battles to the strong," the inviolable law of destiny accords to tireless energy, industry and ability a successful career; and the truth of this assertion is abundantly verified in the life of Mr. Williams, who, though he has met many difficulties and ob-