Captain George F. Williams came to North Dakota in the year 1886, where he took up homestead rights in Barnes County in the Southwest ΒΌ, Section 4, Township 139, Range 61 (Mansfield Township).
George F. Williams was born at Fremont, Ohio, on December 19, 1839. His boyhood years were spent with his parents on the farm. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he responded to his country's call and enlisted September 10, 1861, as Second Lieutenant of Company F, and was commissioned Captain of Company F on April 17, 1863. He mustered out at the end of his term of service. Captain Williams lost part of his right hand during a battle at Lawrenceberg, Tennessee. He also lost two brothers at the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee. After his return from the Army, he became a conductor on the Lake Erie and Western Railroad, serving in that capacity for twelve years.
On October 6, 1869, Captain Williams married Elizabeth Purdy, who died May 7, 1879, leaving him with two small children, a daughter and a son.
In July, 1887, he was married to Viola M. Ashley. Viola died in 1918. Ebert, his son, died March 7, 1880, being only four years of age.
His daughter, Ethel, taught schools in Barnes County; some of which were Piano, Island Lake, Clark City. She married Charlie Maier, and from this marriage there was one daughter, Elsie Anderson of Sanborn, North Dakota.
Living descendants of Captain Williams, most of whom live in Barnes County, are one granddaughter, seven great grandchildren, twenty-two great-great-grandchildren and eighteen great-great-great grandchildren.
Captain Williams died March 29, 1915, at the age of 75 years. He was laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery at Sanborn, North Dakota. He was a member of G.A.R. (Grand Army Republic) in which he took an active part.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 268