Dr. T. B. Williams
To show what push, energy and honesty will do for one wishing to succeed in life, the history of Dr. T. B. Williams fully exemplifies. He was a poor Welsh child, born in South Wales in 1819, coming to America with his parents when only an infant. They located in Gallia County, Ohio, for five years, when they moved to Delaware County, Ohio. Soon after coming to their new home, the father died, leaving the wife to raise eight children, and fight the battle of life alone in the new world. The lad, Thomas B., was only six years old when the father died. The little lad began the bread winning by doing light work for the Welsh friends, and thus assisting the mother. His marked ability to do things was the talk of all the people. He attended school as much as possible, until he arrived at the age when he wished to learn shoemaking. It is said that no better workman ever drove a peg. His honesty and ability grew with his years. His kindness, attentiveness and skill led one of the foremost physicians to employ the young man as a nurse to a patient at the leading hotel—the "American House." The shrewd physician, Dr. Hills, discovered the dormant qualifications of a great physician in the youth, and told his friends, and advised him to study medicine. After consulting with his mother and friends, he entered Dr. Hills' office, where he remained for five years studying by day and far into the night, and still doing some work at his trade to pay expenses. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848-9. He at once became a partner of Dr. Hills, his preceptor. For thirteen years his practice grew, and he became one of the leading physicians of the county. In 1862 at the call of his adopted land, he entered the service as a surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, O. V. I. He gave up his business, bade farewell to home, wife, mother and friends, and enrolled as a patriot for duty. From 1862-5, he was found faithfully doing his work for his country, and for the sick and dying in camp and on the field of battle. His great skill and thoroughness gave him the brigadier surgeonship after the battle of Perryville—the Second Brigade under General John G. Mitchell. Battle after battle he passed through with such remarkable energy and success in the care and attention to the sick in camp and on the battlefield, together with the cleanliness and excellent arrangement of his hospitals, that he was promoted at once to division surgeon in the Fourteenth Army Corps under the command of General Jeff C. Davis. It was often said that his daring, coolness, and self-possession never forsook him in danger. He was always ready for the most extreme emergency. General Steadman at the danger point called the doctor and said "We are completely hemmed in, and I cannot see how we can escape being cut to pieces." "Well, sir," he replied, "I must arrange my hospitals on a more permanent and efficient basis, and be ready for all misfortunes that may befall our troops."' The praise and admiration he was given by such men as Hon. H. M. Carper. Rev. Dr. L. D. McCabe, and the army officers, would make an article alone. He went to the sea with General Sherman, and was at Bentonville at the closing struggle of the war. Dr. Williams was widely known and universally loved as a physician, man, soldier, and citizen. For many years he was a member of the School Board, with Prof. Williams and others, and was a member of the Sixty-first General Assembly, and at the close positively declined another nomination. He belonged to the American Medical Association, Ohio State Society, and was several times elected vice-president, and of the County Medical Society he served as president. Through his modesty he declined other elections saying, "Pass it around."
He was married in 1855 to Miss Nancy Ritchey of Perry County, Ohio, who was one of the first graduates of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, now united with the "O. W. U." Their only child, Miss Clara, graduated from the same institution as the mother, and is a professor in the School of Music of the "O. W. U." The doctor was a faithful member of the William Street M. E. Church. He died in 1879.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908