My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAMSON, J. D., farmer, S. 15; P. O. West Point; a grandson of John Williamson, who was born in Maryland, and married Miss Dodd; they were among the first settlers of West Virginia, and lived in forts at Wheeling during the troubles with the Indians; had two sons and four daughters, of whom Moses, the father of J. D., was the first born; he was born at Wheeling, March, 1779, and while still a young man, removed to Tyler Co., Va., where he married Nancy Ball, a native of Ireland, and at the age of 7 weeks, brought to this country by her parents; they settled in Tyler Co., where the mother died about the year 1865, having lived to be over 80 years of age; the father is still a resident of that (now Pleasant Co.). having reached the advanced age of 100 years; they had ten children, six sons and four daughters, four sons and three daughters now living — J. D., the eldest son, was born in Tyler Co., Va., the 15th of March, 1811; there he was raised, with but limited means for an education; at the age of 21, he began boating on the Ohio River, an occupation he followed for five years; then married Delilah Gorrell; her parents, Ralph and Katie G., were natives of Pennsylvania; she was born in Tyler Co., Va., in 1810; in the spring of 1839, they emigrated to Iowa, first stopping at Burlington; came in October, of the same year, to their present place of residence, where they now own 330 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre, a property they have accumulated by real industry, perseverance and self-denial; came here almost entirely without means; have had six children, three now living — the eldest, Mary J., was born the 27th of November, 1837 (married Oliver McKay of Illinois, and died 31st of November, 1871); Gilbert B., June 28, 1839 (died at Portland, Or., the 16th of September, 1865); Albert S., Sept. 16, 1840 (a resident of Lowell, Henry Co., Iowa, engaged in merchandising); John G., the 22d of September, 1843 (now of Mt. Ayr, Ringgold Co., a dealer and shipper of livestock; Virginia, the 20th of May, 1845 (the wife of Dr. Holland, of Denmark, this county); and Eliza, the 20th of September, 1847 (married Joseph Gill, of Dallas, Ill., died the 24th of July, 1873). Republican in politics; members of the M. E. Church. Has held the office of Township Trustee, and various school offices.