Source info History of Randolph and Macon Counties Missouri, St. Louis, National Historical Company 1884. page 575, states: " James M. Willilams (Senior Member of the firm of Williams & Grant, Proprietors of the Renick Milling Company), Mr. Williams is a native of Howard county, Mo., and was born Jun 20, 1842. His father, Wiloby Williams, a native of Kentucky, came to Missouri when a young man and was one of the pioneer settlers of Howard county. His mother, formerly Miss Nancy Hardin, was a Missourian. James M. spent his boyhood on the parental farm and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1861, at the age of 20, he removed to Randolph county and resolved to become a fullower in the footsteps of Tubal Cain; this worthy ambition, however was nipped in the bud, for in the fall of the same year, hearing on all side the call, To arms! his youthful spirit was fired by the sound and he rushed forth to taste the fierce joys of war. He enlisted in the Confederate service with Gen. Clark's regiment of infantry and served two years. He was a participant in the battles of Lexington, Mo., Pea Ridge, Ark., and a number of small engagements. In the fall of 1863 he left the army and worked at his trade for six months in St. Louis, then returned to Renick, where he now resides and pursued his honest calling, blacksmithing, for 10 years. In the spring of 1876 he went into partnership with Mr. Grant in the flouring mill and harness-making business. They also have a new brick carriage and wagon factory, and besides are engaged in buying and shipping grain. They have been very successful, shpping some years as many as 30,000 bushels of grain. Mr. Williams is an enterprising, thorough business man, and owes his prosperity in life to his own industry, energy and tact. In was in March, 1864, the first year of his return to Renick, that Mr. Williams, was married, in Randolph county (where he ws both reared and educated), to Miss Sarah M., daughter of James Martin, of the same county. There was born of this union but one child Ethlyn. Mr. W. is identified with the Democratic party, and in the fall of 1880 was elected colleactor of the county and served one term. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. W. is a member of the A. O. U. W.