My Genealogy Hound

F. L. Williamson, farmer, of Bird Township, was born in Limestone County, Ala, in 1828, the only child of F. L. and Sarah (Lookenbill) Williamson, the father a native of England, who came to this country at an early day, married in Virginia, and finally settled in Tennessee, where he died in 1828. Our subject’s mother went to Alabama before the country was sectionized, settling in what is now Limestone County, Ala., and later moved to Tennessee, where her death occurred. Her father was among the first pioneers of Pennsylvania, and served through the Revolutionary War. He had two sons in the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch was reared to frontier life, and went four miles on foot to the subscription schools for what education he received. He aided in clearing and developing the home farm, and commenced farming for himself in Wayne County, Tenn. In January, 1802, he enlisted for twelve months in Capt. Powers’ company, under Col. Crewes, went to Nashville, thence to Alabama, and was assigned to the Fifth Kentucky Infantry, under Col. Hunt, Gen. Breckinridge’s brigade. He was in the battle of Shiloh, then on the skirmish line to Corinth; from there to Tupelo, Miss., then to Abbeville, Miss. He was in the company that re-organized, and was in service till the close of the war; he was in the battle at Jackson; thirty-two days at Vicksburg; then went to Baton Rouge, returning to Jackson, Miss., where he was on garrison duty; from there to Grand Junction, then to Jackson, Merita, Ala., Mobile and thence to Florida, from there to Montgomery; to Atlanta and to Chattanooga; to Knoxville, to Virginia, and back to Knoxville; to Chattanooga and Murfreesboro; engaged at Nashville, then on skirmish line to Murfreesboro; he was then transferred to Newman’s command, Tennessee Regiment, and finally returned to Tennessee in 1864, and engaged in farming. In 1867 he came to Arkansas, settling in Independence County, and in 1869 came to Jackson County, in Village Township, and in 1872 to Bird Township, renting land, and in 1886, bought 160 acres in that township. Mr. Williamson has taken quite an active part in politics, voting with the Democratic party. He has seen a vast change in this county, and has always taken an active interest in all worthy public enterprises. Mr. Williamson was first married in Wayne County, Tenn., in April, 1848, to Vianer Tally, daughter of Page and Nancy Tally, natives of South Carolina and Alabama, respectively, who came to Tennessee in an early day. Her father died in 1864, his wife later. By that marriage there were seven children: Levi, Mary Ann (now Mrs. Blake), Calvin, Elizabeth (now Mrs. Beech), William Marion, Caledonia (now Mrs. Stephens) and John, our subject. Mrs. Williamson died in 1886, and in 1887 Mr. Williamson married Josey Andrews, widow, daughter of John Petty, an early pioneer of Tennessee.