Biography by Albert L Williams.

He was taken as an infant to Pownal, removed to Cazenovia, Madison, NY in 1802, and in 1828 to Henderson, Jefferson, NY where his wife died, and the home was broken up. In 1844 he was living in Belvidere, Boon, IL where he had at least two children. He died 20 Jan 1853, at Vermont, Fulton, IL where some of his children resided.

In my youth I heard more or less talk about Grandpa Isaiah. What it was I have no idea, but the sum total of the impression gained was that he was a minister. So strong was my conviction that upon my genealogical records I entered him as Rev. Isaiah. This is Isaiah through the eyes of his great granddaughter, Abigail Hitchcock Finney, as related by the Lawson genealogist:

"She relates that her grandparents were well-to-do farmers, and very staunch Methodists. The circuit-riding minister always stopped at their home, and during quarterly meetings they always entertained the ministers.

"Those were the days of the big fire places, spinning wheels and looms. Thanksgiving was the great day of the year, many days being spent in preparation for its festivities. The great brick oven was kept hot night and day. When the great day came the well-fattened turkey, already partially cooked, was hung before the open fire to roast. It used to fall to the lot of Grandpa Isaiah to attend this mighty function, to keep it turning on the cord by which it was suspended, and to baste it with its own juices, dipping them with a long handled spoon from the drip basin set below.

They taught their granddaughter the primitive arts of the day. She made warm blankets, beautiful coverlets, table linen, towels, flannel and linen dresses. Her making implies much: she spun the yard from wool and flax, she wove the yarn into cloth, she cut out and sewed the garments and finally embellished them with fine needlework.

"Isaiah and Anne were fond of singing Methodist hymns. Grandpa Isaiah spent much of his time winter evenings singing with his children and grandchildren. Grandma Anne had a fine voice, and always sang when at work."

You will see how my vicarious impression of the religious character of the household was borne out by the recollections I one of its members. Realize then, if you can, the shock when I received a letter from Cousin Jesse (Williams) Maffy, daughter of Dr. Albert Mattison Williams that she had visited Cazenovia, and had seen the Old Tavern that Grandpa Isaiah used to keep!

Of course I plied her with questions, but her replies were not sufficiently categorical and incisive to convince me beyond a very large doubt that she had not been misled. And yet it would not be surprising at all if out of the tavern's earnings came the simple abundance of the good things of that day of which I had heard. In his day the tavern keeper was a quasi public official, selected for his piety and public spirit, and entrusted to dispense a dangerous beverage in a manner to draw its venom. In that day the medicinal value of alcohol was not doubted, nor was there a doubt but that men engaged in heavy work required it. Alcohol was a public necessity, a dangerous necessity, albeit which would do vast harm unless it was dispensed by men of high character. Isaiah's grandfather kept a tavern at Stonington,Ct.; there absolutely was no reason why the deeply religious life of Isaiah was inconsistent with the dispensing of alcohol. If Jesse's information was correct, it but shows the quick turn of public opinion shortly after his day. His descendants became ashamed of his calling and suppressed mention of it.

Still I think she was wrong. I base that idea upon the failure of the local historians of Madison County to make any mention whatsoever of Isaiah or any of his family. They tell of the establishment of the first tavern in the town, somewhat before his time. They have much to say of another family of Williamses who established a manufacturing concern in the town. Isaiah, to the best of my belief lived near but not in the village. He did not arrive early enough to be of historic interest as a founder of the town, nor did he become rich enough to stand out from the many as a notable character.

Another thing: All local histories are commercial in their nature. In collecting data, the compilers take advance subscriptions, and sell space for biographical sketches, pictures, etc. Isaiah, to the best of my belief has no descendants left in the town, therefore nobody either to give information concerning him or to subscribe for the book and thus pay for its inclusion.