My Genealogy Hound

Hammond Orne Williams, county clerk, Little Rock, Ark. The subject of this sketch has been so prominently identified with the interests of Pulaski County, as to render him well and favorably known, while his official career has demonstrated him to be one of the most capable and efficient of public servants, whose integrity and honesty of purpose is unquestioned. He owes his nativity to Boyles County, Ky., where his birth occurred on October 12, 1845, he being the third in a family of four children born to Beverly D. and Narcissa B. (Mitchell) Williams. [See sketch of father.] Hammond Orne Williams attended the common schools of Kentucky until the beginning of the war, and in 1865 was a student at the commercial college at Dayton, Ohio, where he completed his educational advantages. In May, 1866, he came to Arkansas, landing at Devall’s Bluff, where his father was then residing. The next day, and when twenty years of age, he was appointed express messenger and the United States mail agent on the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad from Devall’s Bluff to Little Rock, where he continued until December 1, of the same year. He then changed to a position of the same character on the John B. Davis Steamboat Line, running from Memphis to Jacksonport on the White River, making one trip per week. He remained thus employed for two years, and was then appointed railroad agent at Devall’s Bluff, and also agent for all steamboats running up White River. On September 1, 1872, he engaged in merchandising, but still continues as steamboat agent. On October 13, 1874, he closed out his business to his partner, and was elected sheriff of Prairie County, serving in this capacity for two terms. On November 1, 1889, he moved to Little Rock, and became check clerk for the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad at Argenta acting as such for three years. He has since been employed by several railroad and transfer companies in a like capacity. On March 12, 1886, he was appointed deputy sheriff by Robert W. Worth, the sheriff of Pulaski County, to take charge of a posse of men to guard railroad property during the railroad strike of that year. On April 9, Mr. Williams was attacked by a large number of men and received numerous wounds. After recovering he received the nomination for county clerk from the Democratic party, on July 13, 1886, being elected by a majority of over 900 votes, on September 6. In 1888 he was re-elected to the same office by the opposing party. Mr. Williams was married December 8, 1869, to Miss Jennie L. Sylvester, of Arkansas County, Ark., a daughter of Capt. John Sylvester, an old steamboat captain, and niece of Capt. James A. Sylvester, who captured Gen. Santa Anna in the Mexican War, in 1846. Her mother was a native of Massachusetts, and at an early day the family moved to Tennessee. After the father’s death the mother married Col. W. H. Halliburton, who is at present a member of the legislature from Arkansas County, and in that county she is still residing To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born four children, a daughter and three sons, all living: Mary, Beverly D., Jr., Hammond O., Jr., and Jake B. Mr. Williams is a member of the K. of P. and of the Masonic fraternity.