H.S. Williams. Hiram Smith Williams. Born in West Bloomfileld (now Montclair), New Jersey on July 27 1833. Mr Williams established himself as a master coach builder in New York state before his Confederate sympathies eventually brought him to Mobile Alabama where he enlisted in the Fortieth Alabama Regiment at the outbreak of the Civil War. After the Civil War and of the Carpet Bag Government in Alabama he moved to Selma Alabama where he continued at his trade for one year. Coming to Florida on a tour of inspection in 1873 he was so charmed with the Indian river Country and especially that section known as Rock Ledge that he went back to Selma, settled up his business there and brought his family down to that far famed garden spot of the land of the flowers. The last move he made proved to be the most profitable on as he is now the possessor of a very valuable property in the shape of a magnificent orange grove of thirty five acres and 3000 trees. These two men H.S. Williams, and G.S. Hardee would form along with a handful of others the backbone of early Rock Ledge. Although they differed greatly in educational and social background Hardee who had been raised on the plantation in Georgia received only 18 months of schooling as a child, whereas the New Jersey born Williams was not only well trained in his craft but had always had a thirst for study which greatly enhanced his education. Both men served their community will and promoted it as fully as possible. Mr Williams served as the areas first postmaster from the time of the establishment of the Rockledge post office in 1875 until 1881 (the towns name was now one word so that it would fit more easily onto the postmark); from there he moved on to hold the position of Brevard County Treasurer; and finally in 1885 he was elected as the first State Senator from the area - a position he held for two terms H. S.Williams, Myra Gray Williams (Daughter), Margaret Cornelia Coats Williams, and Edmund Sydney Williams (Son).
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 14:24:08 +0000
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