James and Eliza Williams

Portrayal of J.H. and ELIZA WILLIAMS
from the Natchitoches Historic Foundation Sacred Places Tour.
www.historicfoundation.com


James Henry Williams was born in Shiloh, Union Parish, Louisiana on May 14, 1855. In 1859 , he moved with his parents to Winnfield, Louisiana, where his father ran a mercantile business. In 1872, the Williams family moved to Colfax, Grant Parish, Louisiana. In Colfax, he operated a mercantile business with his father under the firm name R.B. and J. H. Williams. In 1900, James Henry Williams moved to Natchitoches and established the mercantile firm of Williams, Weaver and O'Quinn. Over the years he acquired several plantations in Natchitoches and Grant Parishes. James Henry Williams was married twice. His first wife was Mary Edna Milling who died August 18, 1898 after complications during a pregnancy. Eight children were born of this union.

Marie Eliza Payne was born January 19, 1871 at Evergreen Lodge in Natchitoches. She was the child of William and Marie Eliza Bludworth Payne. Eliza was one of the first students to graduate as a teacher from the Louisiana State Normal School, now know as Northwestern State University, in Natchitoches. Eliza had teaching assignments in Campti, New Roads, Barkley and Atlanta, Louisiana. Eliza met James Henry, a school board member.

After an exchange of many letters and although there were significant age differences between James Henry (48) and Eliza (32) and religious differences - James Henry being an Irish Protestant and Eliza a French Catholic - the couple married on June 30, 1903. Six children were born during their marriage. Eliza and James Henry resided in Natchitoches at Rose Lawn. James Henry died of pneumonia on January 19, 1925. Eliza continued to reside at Rose Lawn where she was forced to take in "paying guest". One of the projects which occupied Eliza's time was the American Cemetery Association where she was a founding member and director of the American Cemetery Association. Eliza died in December 30, 1959.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Natchitoches
• Historic
• Foundation
• Sacred
• Places
• Tour

[kmax1940]

wow you must be old if you were born in the 1800's LOL!

[frogfriend98]

i was looking for the school