Description
John W. Williams, aged 85 (born ~1827), died at his home, 123 Van Buren, last night. Senility was the cause of death. The deceased is survived by a wife and 4 children. The funeral arrangements were not made last night. Mr. Williams was a member of the Topeka G. A. R.
(Researcher's note: John Williams enlisted at Leavenworth, Kansas on March 15, 1863, and was mustered as a Private into the 79th USCT Infantry, Company F, in Fort Scott, Kansas. He also served in the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, Co. F.
On October 29, 1866, Nancy Reese of Platte County, Missouri, signed claim for compensation #290 for enlisted slave John Williams and swore an oath of allegiance before Weston, Missouri, Court of Common Pleas Clerk William F. Yocum. Reese claimed she had acquired title by “…that she owned and raised the said John Williams from his infancy, all his life, and owned him up to the time of his enlistment.”Date(s) of Creation
9/6/1912
