Obituaries
Desoto Co FLGenWeb
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Obituary
of John Anderson Williams
Funeral
of John A. Williams ~ 16 July 1906 in Fort Ogden, Florida
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A Confederate Solider ~
The burial of J. A. Williams
of Ft. Ogden was attended by a large number of people. This writer was
invited to the funeral of an old Confederate by Col. J. W. Whidden and
on that ground alone accepted the invitation. Because being a stranger
in that section, he had not known Mr. Williams or any of his family. On
taking the train to Arcadia, quite a number were on their way to attend
the funeral, and when we reached Ft. Ogden, quite a number had come up
from below as far as Punta Gorda and many in both directions with their
wives and daughters, it appeared to me, from the number of vehicles everybody
was there from the regions roundabout. The pallbearers were old veteran
comrades of this faithful old soldier. Among them we recognized Col. Whidden,
Major Pooser, and Pearce Keen of Arcadia. There were others but unknown
to me. The corpse of Mr. Williams was met at the depot by family and friends
of the deceased, he having died at Seabreeze, and the corpse went to the
Methodist Church where a very feeling and proper eulogy and address was
given by his pastor, the Rev. Doctor Morgenson of Nocatee, after which
the body was carried to the grave and interred. The sermon, singing and
everything pertaining to this occasion was very impressive to this writer.
Without ever seeing or have heard of Mr. Williams, I thought he must have
been a very successful man to have drawn such a multitude to his burial,
where he was greatly honored. When I read the very modest statements concerning
his family and their pursuits, I thought he must have been a very useful
man. When I heard the statements made by his pastor and witnessed by many
old and young, with his old Confederate comrades in session, it appeared
he must have been a very good man. "Mark the perfect man and behold the
upright, says David, for the end of that man is peace, perfect not on the
stand point of man, but of God. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
says his spirit from hence, for their works will follow them." The works
of this man will follow him, his children, eight in number, and grandchildren,
will perpetuate this man and his works. Again I sought the old Confederates
one by one. I thought, "They're passing away, there but a few left, and
scarcely one under the age of sixty years of age." It occurred to me having
----(paper is torn)---- and thought well, now mightily
these veterans would battle for salvation and ----(paper
is torn)---- and still they would. How would that every old Confederate,
God is faithful, and a hard fighter for the cross of Christ, so that we
will meet someday with the Lord and shout victory.
Resource: As read by Mrs. Connie Clark
Perry during a taped interview
on January 13, 1992 in Bowling Green,
Fl by Mrs. Carrie Parler Gibson
Photo courtesy of: Mrs. Carrie Parler Gibson
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