CACHE: Cemetery cache. No night caching. Room for smalls and log book only.
HISTORY: Technically speaking, William Williams was a co-founder of Attica Village, as the efforts of Williams and another businessman, Isaac N. Jenness, established their towns which over time merged to create one. It is said Williams built the first sawmill and house here, which is partly true. William's did build the first home, but there's some discrepancy on who built the first mill, Jenness or Williams. Newspapers from that era don't survive and deeds and tax records don't give any solid proof. They say history is written by the winners, well when Jenness and Williams are interviewed for historic publishings both lay claim to the first mill. Maybe they are both correct, considering each established their own town, in that aspect credit for first is deserved by both. Williams, like Jenness, built many homes, ten to be exact, and in the 1990's 4 were still known to be standing. He also built the Schirmer Hotel which was moved to Crossroads Village in the 1980's. Williams personal home is still standing on the corner of Williams Street and Lake Pleasant Road. He also built a 3 story building almost across from today's Rowley's Party Store. It had a grocery store on the first floor, living quarters on the second and the Masonic Temple on the third. It was torn down in 1955, with the wood being reused to build homes in the area. In 1871, the railroad came through and that's when Williams platted his town, Williamston. Many land records still have Williamston instead of Attica listed as a reference point. His mills were very lucrative, even when the one mill on Grass Lake burned twice, it still didn't slow him down. He donated lumber to the then Eastern Normal College, which today is known as Eastern Michigan University. They have a Williams Campus in his honor.
William Williams comes from a line of successful men. He's a direct descendent of William Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and member of the Continental Congress. He's also related to Roger Williams, English born clergyman, who established Providence, Rhode Island, in the 1600's. Our subject was born in Chautaugua County, New York, in 1804. As a young adult he was a blacksmith by trade. He moved to Washtenaw County when he first came to Michigan, eventually locating in Dryden followed shortly after to Attica around 1850. William married Betsey Brockway, who died in 1887. They had 14 children, only twins Oscar and Olivia and son Anthony survived to adulthood. The boys grew to be men like their ancestry, excelling in whatever endeavor they attempted. Oscar served in the Civil War and was Williamston's first official postmaster and prominent Attica farmer. Olivia married Jonathan Marshall, who was a successful farmer. Anthony married Sarah, daughter of mill owner John S. Briggs. Anthony was a member of the State Legislature, a Democrat. His friends included the likes of John D. Rockefeller and Marcus Hanna, who wanted him to become a Republican and run for President of the United States, which he refused feeling he could do more for his country as a state representative.