Charles Sidney Williams Jr.

Long-time Sioux County resident, Charles Sidney Williams, Jr., 88, died July 22, 1987, at the Veterans Hospital, Hot Springs, S. D., after a long fight against cancer.

Mr. Williams was born Sept. 15, 1898, at Crawford, NE to Charles Sidney and Lillie (Thomas) Williams Sr. His grandparents were Perry and Martha (Campbell) Williams and B. F. and Rose (Hamlin) Thomas. His grandfather, Perry Williams, fought for the Union in the Civil War and his other grandfather, B. F. Thomas, was an early day surveyor who first surveyed the area from the Laramie Plains to Chadron.

His mother, Lillie Williams was one of Sioux County's first school teachers and her sister, Minnie T. (Thomas) Weir was Sioux County's first school teacher.

Mr. Williams, as a small boy, remembered Sioux hunting parties on their way to antelope hunting grounds in Wyoming, going across the Williams' ranch, north of Ardmore, in about 1904-1905. His father sometimes gave them a beef for food. The Indians always wanted a good fat dog. The Sioux, on one occasion, gave young Sid a pair of moccasins and a bow and arrow.

He attended school at Ardmore, and in 1917 the family moved to the ranch on Indian Creek west of Ardmore. He homesteaded a section of land across the state line in Fall River County about this time and also ranched with his father until 1937.

Mr. Williams also served as deputy sheriff under his father in about 1926-28 and participated in several raids on moonshine liquor stills. He also finished out the term of county sheriff in 1938, following his father's death. He served again as temporary sheriff in 1947-48.

Mr. Williams married Sarah Jordan November 29, 1941 at Rushville, NE. However, their marriage was dissolved several years later.

He served in a coast artillery anti-aircraft battalion in the United States Army during World War II, 1942-43. After the war he worked as a patrolman at the Black Hills Ordinance Depot in Igloo, SD. He later worked for various rancher and did some trucking during the 1950's and 60's.

After his retirement Mr. Williams moved to Hay Springs, NE where he spent his remaining years. Sid was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Preceding him in death were his sisters, Martha Elshire and Ethel Downey and his brother, Floyd "Stuffy" Williams.

Survivors include his half-brothers, Don R. Williams, Oklahoma City, OK and Russell Williams, Mesa, AZ; half-sister, Ila Mullenix, Fresno, CA. Lavonne Williams Heming, another half-sister, may survive, but she has not been heard from in nearly 50 years. Also surviving are a host of nephews and nieces.

Burial was in the family plot in Chadron.

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