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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON EDWARD WILLIAMS

The comfortable homestead of this gentleman is pleasantly located on section 17 in Quincy Township, where he is numbered among the pioneer citizens.  He is of New England ancestry, his father, Alpheus Williams, having been born in Vermont, where he grew to manhood, and was married to Miss Sylvia McLean, also a native of the Green Mountain State.  Not long after united .... migrated to Hartland County, N.Y., whence in 1836 they came westward to Michigan, and the father purchased a tract of land in Quincy Township, this county.

Alpheus Williams was prospered in his labors of tilling the soil and building a homestead .....  He departed this life where he had lived and labored so many years, Oct. 10, 1877.  The mother survived until Jan. 11, 1886.  The seven children of the parental family are recorded as follows:  Daniel is a resident of Mower County, Minn.; George, John Henry, and Edward, our subject, are all living in this county, mostly in Quincy Township; Ann Eliza became the wife of Horatio Bidleman, of Coldwater; Monroe died in Webster County, Iowa, Jan. 13, 1874, leaving a wife and two children.

Edward William, our subject, was born in Hartland County, N.Y., Oct. 3, 1835, and was an infant of six months when his parents brought him to Michigan.  The marriage of Edward Williams and Miss Rosa S. Foster was celebrated at the home of the bride in Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Jan. 1, 1861.  Mrs. Williams is the daughter of Enoch and Eliza (Gates) Foster, natives of New Hampshire, where they were reared and married, and whence, in about 1845, they came to Michigan and settled first in Hillsdale County.  Three years later they came to this county, taking up their residence in Quincy Township, but finally back to Hillsdale County, where the father died in 1872, and the mother in 1873.

To Mr. & Mrs. Foster there were born nine children, five of whom died in infancy and four lived to mature years.  Melvina became the wife of Charles Sutfin, and shie died at ther home in Hillsdale County, Dec. 15, 1887; Brigham is a resident of Tracy, Minn., Albert died in Hillsdale County, Oct. 30, 1887; Rosa S., the youngest, who was born Nov. 25, 1840, remained with her parents until her marriage.  Of her union with our subject there have been born four children, with all of whom they have been called to part, none of them surviving beyond their infancy.