 IOGRAPHIESLenawee County, Michigan |
Charles E. Williamson has been a resident of Lenawee county during all the years of his life, and is well known in church, fraternal and business circles. He was born at Tecumseh, Sept. 18, 1850, the son of Charles Whitfield and Phoebe (Ketcham) Williamson, the former of whom was born at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1823, and the latter was also a native of the Empire State, born Nov. 24, 1814. The paternal grandparents were Isaac and Martha (Miller) Williamson, the grandfather being a carpenter and cooper, who settled in Tecumseh in 1840, and there he died in 1854. His wife died in Grand Rapids some years later. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, and one of the sons, John W. is now living in Grand Rapids at the advanced age of ninety years. The maternal grandparents of the subject of this review were Jacob and Anna (Holmes) Ketcham, natives of the state of New York. They came to Tecumseh in 1834, locating on a farm one-half mile west of the village, and there they lived out their allotted time. They became the parents of six children, all of whom are deceased. Charles W. Williamson, the father of our subject, was seventeen years old when the family took up their residence in Tecumseh. In early life he learned the trade of a cooper, and as such became prominently identified with the industrial affairs of Tecumseh. He was a Democrat in his political views, and himself and wife were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died July 28, 1895, and his wife passed away Oct. 26, 1890. They became the parents of two sons: George A., who died June 9, 1906, at the age of fifty-eight years, and Charles E., to whom this sketch is more particularly dedicated. Charles E. Williamson received his education in the schools of Tecumseh, completing a high school course, and upon reaching manhood applied himself to agricultural pursuits. He has a farm of 240 acres, lying in Clinton and Franklin townships, and he followed farming exclusively until 1885. He then removed to the village of Tecumseh and engaged in the wholesale produce and grocery business. He was thus successfully employed until 1905, when he sold the business to his sons – Charles H., Floyd E., and Leon P. – who, under the firm name of Williamson Brothers, are carrying on an industry that amounts to approximately $300,000 per year. After retiring from mercantile affairs Mr. Williamson devoted his attention to the improvement of his farm for a few years, and on Jan. 6, 1908, he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business under the firm name of Rauch & Williamson. In addition to his other extensive interests, he for some time was interested in the electric lighting plant at Tecumseh and officiated as superintendent and manager of the same for two years. He also acted as the local representative of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee for a period of ten years. In politics he is an adherent of the Republican party, and has been honored by election to the position of president of the village of Tecumseh. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church and he was treasurer of the local organization of the same for some years, now occupies the position of trustee, and he has officiated as the superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a prominent member of both the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the former, his local connections are with the Tecumseh Lodge, No. 69, Free and Accepted Masons; Tecumseh Chapter, No. 42 Royal Arch Masons, and the Eastern Star. With the Odd Fellows he has membership in Tecumseh Lodge, No. 14; Raisinville Encampment, No. 13, and Rebekah Lodge, No. 338. He served as Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Michigan during the years 1901-02 and in 1904 he represented the state organization in the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Baltimore. Mrs. Williamson is a member of both the Eastern Star and Rebekah lodges. On May 14, 1874, Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Louise Catherine Moore, the daughter of Henry and Ann Watterson Moore of Dundee township, Monroe county, Michigan and to this union there have been born six children: Charles H., Anna L., Floyd E., Luella M., Leon P., and Rodney, all living. (Typist – Mr. Williamson died June 21, 1930)
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