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Greene County NCGenWeb
Dr. Benjamin F. Williams, 1897
DR. BENJAMIN F. WILLIAMS
A North Carolinian Who Went to Georgia and Made His Mark
Correspondence of the Observer
Waycross, Ga., Aug. 28-in order to show what North Carolinians have done abroad with your permission, I will give you a brief history of the life of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Williams ,who was born in Greene county, North Carolina, September 2,1820 and whose parents, Joseph and Avy [Murphy] Williams, were also natives of the same state. For many years Joseph Williams, father of the subject of this sketch, was a wealthy and sucessful planter. Dr. Williams was reared in his native State, and there received his elementary training, and later attended Madison University, in New York.
In 1840 he began reading medicine with Dr. Robbins, of Troy, N.Y., and afterward attended the medical college in Albany, and in 1849 he returned to North Carolina and engaged to practice his profession. But his natural aptitude for public affairs seemed to eclipse his professional ability, and in 1850 he was elected to represent his county-Greene-in the General Assembly of North Carolina, and the honor was conferred upon him for six successive terms. In 1886 he removed to Georgia and resided in Charlton county for some time. Later he moved to this county-Ware-settling for a short while at Sunnyside. In 1872 Dr. Williams moved to Waycross, being one of the two first settlers of this town, where he accumulated much wealth, and was instrumental in making Waycross what it is today-a place of 6,000 or 7,000 inhabitants, and also an important railroad centre. Dr.Williams in conjunction with several other prominant citizens, established the first private school in Waycross, and later was instrumental in building an academy, thus indeavoring to promote the welfare of the town and state of his adoption. Moreover, he engaged in other useful enterprises; laid off a portion of the city of Waycross, kept up a large and lucrative practice,and engaged in many other worthy enterprises. He servered for a short time in the Confederant army and was a member of the first constitutional convention.
Dr. Williams married Miss Sarah F. Williams, of New Hartford, N.H., and died in Waycross, May 7, 1892. His remains were intered in Lott cemetery, this city, and he now "sleeps the sleep that knows no waking."
His wife and seven children survive him, five of whom are residents of Waycross; Mrs. H. J. Lott, Henry C. Williams, a prominant and wealthy planter; Joseph S. Williams, a popular lawyer, and Judge of Ware county court, Miss Mattie F. Williams, and Dr. Benjamin H. Williams, a well known dentist. The other members of this honored family are; Mrs. S.V. Houck, Gordon county, Ga. and Dr. William P. Williams, a physician of Blackshear, Ga.
Judge Williams informs me that the family has many relatives still living in the Old North State, who will no doubt be glad to see this account of their relative, and with this last sentence, I will close this brief sketch of a North Carolinian who won fortune and fame in the Empire State of the South.
Oscar J. Allen
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