The Williams Families
Willie Williams leaves growing real estate empire to his wife and children.
Wille Williams (1873-1916), my great grandfather, was born in Columbia, GA, to Eli Williams (1845-1913) and Charity Williams nee Shepherd (1846 -1922). Eli married Charity on December 24, 1867, just months after voting for the first time on July 15, 1867, a right gained under The Fourteenth Amendment giving Black men the right to vote. He is listed as a planter on 1880 Census. Willie Williams married Mary Ella Wright on December 27, 1887.
Willie was the 4th of 8 children born to Eli and Charity, and the one who helped build a home for his parents next door to his.
Willie Williams, treasurer of The Augusta GA|Union No. 2|Bricklayers and Plasterers International Union (AGBPIU), and members of said Union No. 2, helped build the two homes. Documents indicate Willie moved into 1243 Augusta Avenue after 1900 (1900 Census lists another address), and his parents moved into 1245 sometime around 1907.
My essay,
ended with the following statement:
Documents (deeds to 4 properties) and photos further suggests The Williams Family subscribed to various intellectual beliefs and led a practical lifestyle placing them among the Negro [hereafter, “Black,”] elite in Augusta. Why then, did they end up struggling like many who had far less?
Sample documents:
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