FREDERICK F. WILLIAMS, who now owns and operates a well improved farm on section 27, Clyde township, has been a citizen of Whiteside county for almost half a century. He was born on board a ship that was lying at anchor at a port in Australia, April 6, 1855, and is the son of Frederick J. and Elizabeth (Tooley) Williams, both of whom were of English birth. Frederick J Williams was a ship carpenter and boatswain, which occupations he followed for about thirty years. Having concluded to abandon the sea, in 1856 he came to Whiteside county nd purchased a farm of eighty acres in Ustick township and continued to engage in faring until his death in 1871. His wife preceded him to the unknown world some three years. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are yet living. Frederick F. is the subject of this sketch. Catherine is the wife of Charles Hole, a plasterer by trade, and with their four children they reside in Exeter, Nebraska. Alice is the wife of William Wallace, by whom she has five children. They reside in Exeter, Nebraska, where he is engaged in the banking business. Walter, unmarried, resides in Omaha, Nebraska. Annie is the wife of Edward Thynard, of Freeport, Illinois, where he is employed as bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Company. They have four living children.

The subject of this sketch was about one year old when he was brought by his parents to this country In the public schools of Ustick township he obtained a common-school education. He remained with his parents until he was thirteen years 9old, when he worked as a farm hand for various farmers until he accumulated enough money to start in business for himself.

In 1881 Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Robertson, who was born in Ustick township, and daughter of Joseph K. and Mary Robertson, and to them have been born four children - Annie, George, Agnes and Ellen.

After his marriage Mr. Williams rented a farm for six years and met with good success as a general farmer and stock raiser. In 1888 he purchased the farm where he now lives, an unimproved place of one hundred and sixty acres. In the years that have passed he has devoted his undivided attention to its improvement, and the result is shown in a farm of which he has just reason to be proud. He has carried on general farming and stock raising, never having run off on any hobby In addition to his farming operations he has for about twenty years engaged in well drilling, meeting with good success in that line of work, and thus adding to his general income.

While averse to office holding, Mr. Williams served six years as road commissioner. In politics he is a Republican, and believing heartily in the principles of his party in the various campaigns he gives much of his time to the party's interest. Believing in the public school system of his adopted country he has served several years as school trustee  But it is as a farmer that he is best known and as he would be know, although for some years he was engaged in purchasing and shipping stock, during which time he extended the circle of his friends and acquaintances.