GUILLIAMS, Fred L. - Putnam

Fred L. GUILLIAMS -- Back to the earliest settlers of Putnam County is traced the record of the Guilliams family, the many members of which have done much for the general process of the locality, since they have all been hard workers and law abiding and always willing to do their just share in the interest of the county. Among the best known of this family in Russell Twp is Fred L. Guilliams, who was born in this county Oct 4, 1867 son of Daniel Guilliams, born Sept 27, 1833 and grandson of John Guilliams, born April 26, 1802 a native of VA, who was one of the first settlers of this county and who married Lydia FOSHER, born Oct 2, 1806, a native of this county; they resided on a farm at Blakesburg and were the parents of the following children: John; Christian; Daniel; Lydia; Sarah; Mary and Betsy, all deceased but Lydia who married a Mr. Leonard and is living in Kansas. Daniel Guilliams was reared on the farm and had the advantages of the early schools of the backwoods. He was married to Clarissa HART, Sept 14, 1856, daughter of John M. Hart, who was born Dec 10, 1 806 and who on Feb 21, 1830 married Nancy Colwell Lockridge, who was born July 12, 1812. They were parents of 10 children: John L; Margary E; Clarissa; Margaret; Henry C; Sarah A; Nancy P; Pauline and Eliza. The Harts also lived in Putnam County in its earliest days. After his marriage, Daniel Guilliams began farming on his own account, which he continued a few years, then engaged in business as a retail merchant at Portland Mills. After four years he went back to his farm. Both he and his wife belonged to the Christian Church. Politically, Mr. Guilliams wa a Republican. His death occurred August 10, 1893, his wife surviving until August 17, 1895. They are buried in the cemetery at Blakesburg. Six children were born to them, 4 living, namely: John M. born Oct 16,1857 married Fanny Cavins of Illinois, he is professor of mathematics, languages and history in the normal school at Bowling Green, Ky; Ida F is a teacher in the public schools of Putnam County; Ella B now Mrs. Morton Fordice was born August 11, 1873 and is mother of four children: Margery, Daniel, Mary and Rudolph. Fred L. Guilliams of this review, spent his boyhood days on the home farm. After completing the prescribec course in the common schools he was graduated from Danville Normal School, where he prepared himself for a teacher and for 3 years taught very successfully in the public schools and one year in a normal school in Florida. On April 23, 1899, he married Laura M. GRIMES, daughter of John and Amanda CLODFELTER Grimes, an influential family of this county where they have lived since the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Guilliams began their married life on a farm of 160 acres, for which they paid $50 per acre, that beling less than 1/2 of its present value for Mr. Guilliams who has continued to reside here, has improved the place until it is equal to any in the community, he having always been regarded as one of the successful and enterprising agricuturists of the county. He has given his attention exclusively to farming and stock raising and is an enthusiastic poultry raiser, keeping a large number of choice fowls, from which he realizes a handsome income; he also makes a specialty breeding Duroc Jersey hogs of a superior quality; these are eagerly sought after and admired by all who see them. He has a neat and comfortable dwelling, nicely furnished and good outbuildings. To Mr. and Mrs. Guilliams one child has been born, John Leroy born May 29, 1908. Both are members of the Christian Church. Regarding the several branches of the Guilliams family the following facts are noted: William Guilliams born at Parkersburg, VA married Sarah Ferguson and had 9 children: Mary Quilliams (sic) Smith; John Guilliams; Frances Guilliams Smith; Edgecombe Guilliams; Chanty Guilliams Myers; William Guilliams; Richard Guilliams; Naomi Guilliams Landers; George Guilliams. Of these childre n, John Guilliams paternal grandfather of Fred L. Guilliams married Lydia Fosher and had 8 children: Daniel Guilliams; Susannah Guilliams Henkle; Elizabeth Guilliams McGuaghey; Sarah Guilliams McGaughey; Mary Guilliams Long; John Guilliams; Christian Guilliams and Lydia Leonard. Daniel Guilliams, father of Fred L. Guilliams married Clarissa Hart, Sept 14, 1856 and they had six children: John Milton Guilliams; Alice Guilliams; Charley Guilliams; Ida Emily Guilliams; Frederick Leon Guilliams (subject of sketch) and Ella B. Guilliams Fordice. Fred L. Guilliams married Laura M. Grimes april 23, 1899 and have one child: John Leroy Guilliams. Ella B. Guilliams married Morton Fordice and have six children: Margery Morton Fordice; Rudolph Gilliams (sic) Fordice; Mary Charlotte Fordice; Daniel Kirkwood Fordice an infant son born Dec 25, 1903 and Asa Olney Fordice. Mary Colwell married John Lockridge and had seven children; MIlton Lockridge; Nancy Colwell Lockridge (who married John M. Hart). Matthew Lockridge; Elizabeth Lockridge; James Lockridge; Joseph Lockridge and Lou Lockridge. Of these, Nancy Colwell married John M. Hart and had 9 children: Philip Hart married Margery Colwell and had 4 children: John M. Hart (Grandfather of Fred L. Guilliams) born Dec 10, 1806; Pleasant Hart (died when 11); Susanna Hart Allen and Jane Hart. John M. Hart married Nancy Colwell Lockridge and had 9 children: John Hart; Margery Elizabeth Hart; Clarissa Hart (born July 4, 1836 who became the wife of Daniel Guilliams); Margaret Priscilla Hart; Henry Clay Hart; Sarah Anne Hart; Nancy Pennelia Hart; Pauline Hart and Eliza Hart. Clarissa Hart married Daniel Guilliams and they had six children. Daniel Fosher born in Germany May 12, 1763, came to America with the Hessian soldiers. His son, John Fosher, born in Franklin Co VA in 1786, married Elizabeth Landers and they had 9 children: Christian Fosher; Lydia Fosher Guilliams; Daniel (died in infancy); Henry Fosher; John Fosher; Anna Fosher Guilliams; Kate Fosher Nichols; Betsy Fosher Fall; Mary Fosher Todd Smith. Of these children; Lydia Fosher Fall (born Oct 2, 1806) married John Guilliams and had 8 children as given elsewhere. Daniel Guilliams, the eldest of these, married Clarissa Hart and they became the parents of six children as noted elsewhere in this genealogy. The fifth of these children was Frederick Leon Guilliams, subject, who married Laura M. Grimes, daughter of John and Amanda Clodfelter Grimes and they have on son, John Leroy Guilliams