John T. Williams

The captain came by his soldiering and patriotism honestly, for he was a grandson of Daniel Williams, Revolutionary War soldier and one of the first settlers in eastern Kentucky. John T. Williams was born on Elk Fork, Morgan County, October 24, 1822, son of Squire John T. Williams. He was intelligent in battle, but fearless, according to reporters and had only to appear in a group of soldiers for them to look at him with awe and respect. He and his men held Morgan County for the South during the struggle.

The Captain married Miss Rebecca Henry and following the war settled on a 1000 acre farm at Liberty Road, a few miles from the county seat town of West Liberty. In addition to operating his large farm, he ran a watermill and dealt in livestock. With no banks in the entire region between Prestonsburg and West Liberty, Williams became a "finance company"! to his neighbors and friends, lending money on occasion. Any money the soldier came by during his fighting or in business he converted into gold as soon as possible. Gold was, the money of value in those days and did not depreciate. 

A skirmish occurred in Morgan County on October 6, 1863 at McClannahan Hill about four miles northwest of  West Liberty. A company of Union Soldiers ( Company B, 5^th Ohio Independent Calvary Battalion) had passed through West Liberty en route to Morehead, and Captain John T. Williams was able to cut across the river and reach McClannahan Hill ahead of them. He and his band waylaid the Federals, firing upon them from behind fallen trees. Reportedly on Union solider was killed and a few others were wounded. 

In April 1863 Williams clashed with Union Troops led by Captain Carey on Grassy Creek.

The role of Captain John T. Williams, son of Squire John T. Williams and Phoebe Ferguson  Williams is perhaps best known of Morgan County’s men in blue and gray.