Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 281.

CHARLES C. WILLIAMS

     One of the reputable representative citizens of Clackamas county, Oregon,
residing near Oregon City, is a native of Enosburg, Franklin county, Vermont,
born November 30, 1830.  He is of old English Puritan ancestry; the family of
his name which landed on Plymouth Rock that bleak winter of 1620 were ancestors
of our subject.  >From there the Williams family scattered in time all over New
England, and became influential and prominent in every State.  The grandfather
was David Williams, and became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and our
subject now has in his possession the powder-horn of the old patriot, which,
with his flint-lock musket, went with him all through that long struggle for
independence.  David Williams died in Enosburg, Franklin county, Vermont, in his
ninety-ninth year. 
     The son of the Revolutionary hero was Isaiah Williams; he was born in
Ipswich, New Hampshire.  He married Miss Martha Tenny, a native of Boston, and
removed to Vermont, and later to Massachusetts, where he died when the subject
of this sketch was only six years of age, and the mother died that same year,
both in their forty-eighth year.  They had a family of ten children; one of
these was killed by an accident, at the age of ten years; two of the daughters
married ministers; one of the brothers is now a leading minister in the
Congregational denomination in Chicago, and another is a prominent lawyer in New
York city.  Another of this family bravely started out for himself when he was
but a lad, and recently died in Buffalo, a rich man, being estimated to have
been worth $10,000,000.
     Our subject was the youngest child in the family, and was reared near New
York from his eleventh year.  He was educated in an academy at Aurora, and at
Buffalo, Erie county, and has since that time principally devoted himself to
farming.  The marriage of our subject took place in 1855, to Miss Chestina C.
Barker, a native of Evans, Erie county, New York, born in 1836.  After their
marriage they resided in New York for fourteen years, and there were born to
them the following children, namely:  Ella E., Thornton L., Wallace W. and
Charles T.  The latter died in his fourth year.
     In 1875 the family came to Oregon, and remained in Portland for one year,
and then came to Clackamas county, purchasing a farm one mile south of Oregon
City, and on this property he has since resided, improving and prospering.  In
1878 our subject erected a good residence in a very desirable locality, as from
it there is a fine view of the country and the surrounding mountains, especially
of grand old Mount Hood.
     Mr. Williams has dealt some in real estate, and the property which he first
bought has so increased in value that he has found it a most profitable
investment.  Oregon City is fast growing out in that direction.  Mr. Williams
became a voter when the great question of the extension of slavery into the new
Territory was under discussion, and his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln,
and ever since that time he has been a strong adherent of the principles held by
the Republican party.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was a
charter member of the Grange, being now Past Master of that order, and has given
them all the aid in his power.
     Our subject and family are very highly esteemed, and his honorable life has
brought its own reward.  He enjoys the respect of all wherever he is known.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
1910 - May 14; Clackamas Co, OR; Abernethy Pct, page 17
Charles A. Williams, head, 66, VT, VT, VT, Wd, manager, grand army
William A, son, 32, VT, VT, NH, 1st mar, mar 7 yrs, machinist, machine shop
Clark H, son, 29, KS, VT, NH, single, newspaper man, newspaper
Pricilla L, dau in law, 24, OR, GER, IN, 1st mar, mar 7 yrs, 0 children
 
1920 - Jan 12; Clackamas Co, OR; Gladstone Pct No. 2, page 50
Charles A. Williams, head, 75, VT, VT, VT, Wd, asst. adjt-gen, G.A.R.
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.