| Notes |
- From Findagrave:
Dearman was the son of Richard Williams and Sarah Stanton. He married Mary E Farmer on Nov 27, 1830. They were the parents of 8 children: John F, Benjamin, James, Edwin, Rebecca P, Sarah W, Kate A, and Mary E.
History of Kossuth and Humboldt counties, Iowa Page 635 - As one of the earliest settlers of Humboldt county, the first physician, and a prominent citizen, the name of Dr. Dearman Williams claims a place in this History. The subject of the biographical sketch was born near Mt Pleasant, Jefferson, Co, Ohio Nov 12, 1804. His parents Richard and Sarah Stanton Williams came to Ohio from Newborne, N.C. in the year 1802 and settled at the place already given as his birthplace.
He had five brothers and five sisters. Two sisters and one brother still survivie him. Through his mother he was related to the great War Secretary Stanton, she being a sister of his father....
In the spring of 1812 his father moved from Jefferson to Clark county, setting in a new home near where Massillon stands. They arrived there the day war was declared between England and the US. ... He was brought up to farming which occupation he followed until about the year 1825 when he commenced the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Benjamin Stanton of Salem, Ohio.
He finished his medical course and was examined by and received a diploma or certificate from Stern county Medical Board at Canton, Ohio in the year 1828. .. He commenced the practice of medicine at Pennsville, Morgan Co, Ohio in a few months after his graduation, where he established an excellent practice and made many strong and firm friends.
He was married to Mary Farmer, daughter of John and Mary Farmer of Salineville, Columbiana Co, Ohio at Sandy Spring, MO "Meeting of Friends" Nov 27, 1830. He wife was a superior woman, a true help mate, and a faithful and loving companion until her death which occurred Oct 4, 1851 in the 43rd year of her age. Although he survived her 16 years, he always felt her loss very deeply. ..
Both himself and wife were birthright members of the Society of Friends and so remained during their lives. They had 8 children, four sons and four daughters.
John F, the oldest, whose name appeared among the very earliest settlers of this county has been for a number of years in the employ of the government at Darlington, Indian Territory, Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Agency.
Benjamin, the second son, also one of the early settlers here, went during the great rush to Colorado in 1859-60 to that land of gold and on his way home enlisted in the army for putting down the rebellion in 1861. He belonged to company B, 5th Iowa Cavalry. He served during the first 3 years, then enlisted for 3 years more or to the end of the war. Soon after he re-enlisted, he was taken prisoner by the rebels near Atlanta, Ga, having gone there with Sherman in his "march to the sea." After enduring 6 months he came home, barely escaping with his life. For a number of years he has resided in the Pan Handle of Texas, cattle raising being his business.
James, the third son, whose boyhood days were spent in this county, also served a short time in the late war. He served also a number of years as minister and presiding elder in connection with the Northwest Conference of the M.D. Church and was sent by the Conference as superintendent of the Methodist Mission in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory in 1876, where he still remains.
Edwin F, the youngest, who spent many of his early years here, went when quite young to Kentucky to acquire a knowledge of engineering. He was always of a mechanical and inventive turn of mind and soon became a successful engineer. He followed that business a number of years in connection with the mines in Colorado and while there invented a cutch for doing away with pulleys which was exhibited at the centennial exhibition. He is now in Philadelphia, PA in mechanical business.
Rebecca P Gidley, the oldest daughter, has been since 1855 a resident of Marshall and Winneshiek counties in this state.
Sarah W Collins, was with her husband, T.E. Collins, one of the earliest settler in this county and is known to many of its residents.
Kate A Collins, who many of the older settlers will remember, resides with her husband, Rev. M.D. Collins in Corning, Adams Co, Iowa. Their marriage was among the earliest in the county.
Mary E, the youngest daughter, died of heart disease at the house of Hiram Flemming, near Lott's creek March 23, 1863 in her 21st year. She was a sweet, amiable girl, a faithful Christian, and beloved by all who knew her. Her early death was mourned by many. To her father especially it was an irreparable loss.
Intending to quit the practice of medicine, which was wearing on his health, Dr. Williams left Pennsville in the year 1843, going to Salineville, Columbiana Co, Ohio. There, with his brother-in-law, James Farmer, he engaged for a time in a woolen factory and oil mill but this not proving a financial success, he removed in 1950 to Mechanicstown, Carroll Co, Ohio, again entering into practice in partnership with Dr. J. Lindsay.
It was at this place in the following year that his wife died and in 1852 he removed with his family to Lewisburg, Champaign Co, Ohio not far from the place where his brother, Asa Williams, had settled many years before. There he followed farming on a small scale and also practiced some, but his health again failing he determined to abandon the medical practice altogether; and in order to do so, concluded to emigrate to a new country where he would not be now as a physician.
Three of his children had already come to Iowa and settled near Bangor, Marshall county and in the spring of 1855 he with the remainder of his family, moved in wagons to the same place from which place in the fall of 1856 he came to this county and settled near the mouth of Lotts creek on the place now occupied by Mr. Goddard, having purchased of the government a quarter section of land on a part of which the town of Livermore now stands.
Although as already been stated he came here intending to retire from the practice of medicine and had enjoined it upon his family and friends not to divulge the fact of his being a physician yet as such things will, it soon leaked out in some way and as there was no other physician near he was besieged day and night with urgent appeals for the benefit of his skill, until he saw no other way but to surrender and at last again got out a license and entered upon his professional duties and for years rode extensively over this and Kossuth counties. ...
In the fall of 1865 he sold his place at Lotts Creek, broke up housekeeping and went to Winneshiek county , where his daughter Mrs R.P. Gidley with her husband, Isaac M Gidley then resided. He staid some months then went to Muscatine, where his two sons, John and Benjamin, lived. With them he remained until the fall of 1867, when he returned to this county where he spent his few remaining days with his daughter, Mrs T.E. Collins. It was his intention to make arrangements for a permanent home here again but he lived but a short time after his return.
During his stay at Muscatine he was thrown from a load of lumber on to the frozen ground. He had a small grandchild in his arms at the time and in trying to save her, the fall was made harder for him. He fractured two of his ribs and was otherwise injured and although he so far recovered as to be able to come from that place with his own team and alone, yet his death was caused finally from injuries then received.
He died after an illness of two weeks of inflamation of the kidneys on the 27th day of November 1867 in the same month and the same day of the month on which he was married and was buried in Sumner burying ground by the side of the daughter he had laid there four years before. He was affectionate, sympathetic, benevolent, and social in his disposition, a bitter enemy to slavery, always an upright conscientious man, and for the last 4 years of his life particularly, he was a faithful devoted Christian.
After his eyes were closed apparently to open no more, a bright radiance lit up his countenance, he opened his eyes again and with an expression as if looking intently at some object he exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful the City is!" and quietly passed away.
|
1804 - 1867 (63 years)
