Biographies
ANDREW DUNCAN WILLIAMSON
From Portrait & Biographical Album of Greene & Clark Counties, Ohio
Chapman Bros., 1890
Andrew Duncan Williamson is one of the prominent farmers of Greene County, having a fine estate four miles south of Xenia, on which he has resided since 1846, and which he has brought to a high state of development, raising from it crops which in quality and quantity rank with the best. The landed estate comprises two hundred acres and a full line of farm buildings, well constructed and commodious, meets the eye of the visitor, while fine stock and modern machinery indicate that the owner is both capable and progressive in carrying on his work.
Mr. Williamson was born in York County, Pa., January 30, 1815, his parents removing to Washington County the same year and four years later changing their location to Jefferson County, Ohio, settling near a place called Warren, where they remained about thirteen years. In 1833 they went to Shanesville, Tuscarawas County, but in April 1836, located in this county, where they permanently remained. Our subject was with his parents during their various changes of residence and came with them to this county by wagons, continuing to reside under the parental roof until his marriage in the spring of 1838. He then located five miles north of Xenia Township, from which place he removed to his present location some years later. He has not only acquired an excellent reputation as an agriculturist, but has served his fellow citizens in public capacities, laboring earnestly for the advancement of the cause of education and for the good of the community in various ways.
In the advancement of the cause of education Mr. Williamson has been active, serving as a member of the School Board of Spring Valley Township since its organization thirty years or more ago, and being its President; in his own district he has served as Trustee for forty years. To the duties of Township Trustee he has devoted his energies for ten years, and he was Treasurer of the Board that raised funds for troops during the late war. His continuance in office affords the best proof of his upright character, intelligence, and good judgment, and is a striking manifestation of the opinion which is held of him by his neighbors. In the furtherance of church work he is also energetic, holding membership in the United Presbyterian denomination.
On April 8, 1838, the marriage ceremony was performed which united Mr. Williamson and Miss Isabella Collins. The bride was born in York County, Pa., in March, 1815, being a daughter of William and Lydia Collins, latterly of Xenia. Her father is a farmer and distiller. The union resulted in the birth of six children: David W., and the Rev. William C. of Keokuk, Iowa, served in teh Union army during the war; Henrietta R. is the wife of the Rev. James W. McNary, of La Crosse, Wis.; Leamon Wilson is a minister, now located at North Bend, Neb.; the fifth child is Rolly D.; Clarkson died at the age of nineteen months. The mother of this household band was a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, active in good works in her own home and among her neighbors and highly respected by all. She was removed from her family by death in September, 1870.
Mr. Williamson contracted a second matrimonial alliance May 14, 1872, his chosen companion being Miss Elizabeth S. Barr, who was born in Washington County, Pa., August 8, 1828. Her grandparents, William Barr and his wife (who was formerly a Miss Dickey) and Hugh and Elizabeth (Scott) Boyd came from Ireland to America in the same ship in 1810, both families settling in Washington County, Pa. There a son and daughter from each family were united in marriage and lived upon a farm. To this couple, William and Mary (Boyd) Barr, the present wife of our subject was born. She belongs to the Presbyterian Church and is one of those women whose disposition, habits and training fit them to preside over a happy household and encourage its members in every laudable enterprise.
Both the paternal and maternal ancestors of our subject were natives of the Emerald Isle and both parents were born in York County, Pa. David Williamson was a tailor, but a short time before leaving Warren, Ohio, where he had resided thirteen years, he abandoned his trade and turned his attention to farming. On coming to this county in 1836 he located six miles east of Xenia, on the Jamestown Pike. There he owned about three hundred acres of land which he improved and occupied for ten years, after which he removed to Xenia, in which city he spent the remainder of his days, dying at the age of seventy-eight years. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. In religion his belief coincided with that of the Presbyterian Church, his wife also belonging to that denomination. The widow, in her girlhood Miss Catherine Duncan, survived until about 1882, attaining to the advanced age of ninety-three years. She was one of a family comprising four sons and two daughters, born to Andrew Duncan, a Pennsylvania farmer, the other members of the circle being Andrew, Robert, John, Jonathan, and Elizabeth. Her own family included ten sons and daughters, the subject of this sketch being the third in order of birth. Of the others we note the following: William Williams lives in Hancock County; Ann Duncan, who is now dead, was the wife of Andrew Richie; following our subject on the roll is John S.; David, Sampson and Margaret are dead; the next on the roll is Jonathan D.; Essamiah K. is the wife of the Rev. David Dunnon of Pennsylvania; the Rev. Robert D. lives in Troy, N.Y.
Important Note
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