Thomas Burr Williams

Thomas Burr Williams was born May 8, 1950 in Plainfield, Will County, Illinois. He was one of a family of twelve children, of Lloyd Hubble Williams and wife.

Thomas Burr Williams was a veteran of Civil war and National Chief of Staff of the Grand Army and Assistant Adjutant General of Kansas G.A.R.

He was the oldest living resident of Chapman at the time of his death.

His father died when he was 7 years old.

In March of 1864 at age 13 he enlisted in Company H, 140 Ill Volunteers and was rejected because he was too small. The next year at 14 on 3/17/1865 he again enlisted in Col I, 15th Ill. Volunteer Infantry and was sent to Chicago, IL. Besides himself he had four brothers and a step-father in the war. All the brothers returned by their stepfather didn't. He received his honorable discharge 9/16/1865 at Springfield, IL.

He joined the Grand Army of the Republic in Oct. 1884. He was drafted into the office of Junior Vice Commander in 1937, advancing to the Department Commander in 1939, the highest office the department has. In Feb. 1941 he was appointed Chief of Staff on the GAR.

He was united in marriage to Nancy Ellen Murphy, August 4, 1872 at Grinell, Iowa. To this union were born eight children, five daughters and three sons.

He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Minnesota in 1878.

He received his 32 of Masonry in Kansas in 1930.

My mother, Lois Edwards Park, has his walnut dining room table. Thomas’ nickname was “Bub”.

He lived in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Montana, Minnesota, Kansas.

Thomas Burr Williams was my great great grandfather and he passed away today, January 14, in 1944. He was 93.