Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Thomas WILLIAMS, farmer; P. O. Lockport; was born in County Cornwall, Eng., Jan. 18, 
1807; he immigrated to America in March, 1825, and first settled in Schuylkill Co., 
Penn., when he engaged in mining and shipping coal to Philadelphia about two years; 
he next contracted and built a portion of the Portage Railroad across the Alleghany 
Mountains from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown; in 1834, he came to Illinois and settled 
in Chicago; in June, 1836, in conjunction with Chas. E. BOYER, he contracted four 
sections on the I. & M. Canal and commenced work thereon; in 1848, he built twelve 
miles of the Chicago & Galena Railroad between Chicago and Elgin; in 1850, they went 
to California and constructed the levee in front of Sacramento City; afterward they 
constructed a tunnel 1,900 feet long, bringing the waters of Bear River down to the 
flats of Ophir; in 1854, they contracted on deepening the I. & M. Canal, and finished 
the work in 1857; he located on present place of residence in 1846. He was married in 
1832, to Susan HORNER, a native of Pennsylvania; eight children have been born to them; 
of these, four are living - Julia, Stephen J., Susan and Carrie. Owns 500 acres of land, 
valued at $40,000; he is at present Supervisor; has held the office of School Trustee 
and School Director. In all his public enterprises he has met with good success.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.