# Old Bill Williams

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American frontiersman (1787–1849)

"Old Bill" Williams Old Bill Williams by Alfred Jacob Miller Born (1787-01-03)January 3, 1787 Polk County, North Carolina Died March 14, 1849(1849-03-14) (aged 62) La Garita Mountains Cause of death Murdered by Ute warriors Citizenship American Occupations Mountain man, trapper, guide, interpreter Spouse A-Ci'n-Ga ​ ​ (m. 1813; died 1825)​ Children 2 Parents Joseph Williams (father) Sarah (Musick) Williams (mother) Relatives John Allen Mathews (son-in-law)[a]

**William Sherley "Old Bill" Williams** (January 3, 1787 – March 14, 1849) was a noted [mountain man](/source/Mountain_man) and [frontiersman](/source/American_Old_West#The_fur_trade), known as **Lone Elk** to the Native Americans. Fluent in several languages, Williams served as an interpreter for the government and led several expeditions to the West. He married into the [Osage Nation](/source/Osage_Nation), having two children, each of whom married [John Allen Mathews](/source/John_Allen_Mathews).

## Early life and education

Old Bill Williams statue in Williams Arizona

Williams was born on January 3, 1787, on Horse Creek, a branch of the [Pacolet River](/source/Pacolet_River), under Skyuka Mountain in [Polk County, North Carolina](/source/Polk_County%2C_North_Carolina), into a [Welsh](/source/Welsh_people) family. He was the fourth of nine children born to Joseph Williams and Sarah Musick. Sarah's family was from Virginia. Joseph was from North Carolina and served seven years in the [Continental Army](/source/Continental_Army), receiving a 274-acre land grant on Horse Creek in North Carolina as pay.[1] In 1794 the family sold the land and moved west to [St. Louis](/source/St._Louis), then part of [Spanish Louisiana](/source/Louisiana_(New_Spain)).[2] He learned reading, writing, and math from his parents, and received at least one year of formal schooling.[3] As a child, he liked to explore and learned to trap animals for their furs, and found he had a gift for languages.[4] At seventeen he left home to be a travelling [Baptist](/source/Baptist) preacher and after seven years switched to [fur trapping](/source/Fur_trade).[1]

## Career

Williams was a master [fur trapper](/source/Fur_trade) and trail guide, becoming fluent in several Native American languages among the tribes he knew the best.[1] His ability to communicate in the different languages made him valuable to the government and tribes for negotiations.[5]

### Life among the Osage

During the 1810s and 1820s, he lived with the [Osage](/source/Osage_Nation) Indians in Missouri. While residing with the Osage people he became fluent in their language, created an [Osage language](/source/Osage_language) dictionary, and helped translate the [Bible](/source/Bible) into Osage.[6] He also worked for the United States as an Indian agent starting around 1813.[7] In 1821, he assisted in negotiations between the Cherokee and Osage to end a war that had broken out.[8] He was called "Red-Headed Shooter" by the Osage and left after the death of his wife in 1825.[6]

#### Marriage and children

Williams married A-Ci'n-Ga, a full-blood [Osage](/source/Osage_Nation) woman whose name translates to "Wind Blossom",[b] circa 1813. A-Ci'n-Ga was a member of the Big Hill band and the Buffalo clan. He courted her in the traditional Osage fashion, gifting her parents [horses](/source/Horses) and asking their consent for the marriage. They had two children: Mary Ann Williams, born in 1814; and Sarah Williams, born in 1816. After A-Ci'n-Ga's death between 1819 and 1825, he sent his two daughters to [boarding school](/source/Boarding_school) in [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky) where they met [John Allen Mathews](/source/John_Allen_Mathews).[6] Mary Ann married Mathews in the mid-1830s and after her death in 1843, Mathews married her sister Sara.[9] Williams great-grandson through Sara is [John Joseph Mathews](/source/John_Joseph_Mathews).[6]

### Travels West

In 1824 he was issued a license to trade with the [Kickapoo tribe](/source/Kickapoo_tribe).[10] From 1825 to 1826 he served as part of a survey of the [Santa Fe Trail](/source/Santa_Fe_Trail).[1] He was hired by the survey's Commissioners [George C. Sibley](/source/George_C._Sibley), [Benjamin Harrison Reeves](/source/Benjamin_Harrison_Reeves), and [Pierre Menard](/source/Pierre_Menard), alongside [Joseph R. Walker](/source/Joseph_R._Walker) and [Joseph C. Brown](/source/Joseph_C._Brown), to be part of a survey of the trail. They followed a route from [Fort Osage](/source/Fort_Osage) to [Santa Fe](/source/Santa_Fe%2C_New_Mexico).[11] During the expedition he was an interpreter for a treaty with the Osage signed on August 10, 1825;[12] he also witnessed a treaty with the [Kaw people](/source/Kaw_people) on August 16, 1825.[13]

Biographer Alpheus Hoyt Favour notes that it is hard to distinguish myth from fact between the years of 1825 and 1841 in Williams life.[14] He definitely traveled the [Southwestern United States](/source/Southwestern_United_States) and may have married a Spanish woman and had a child, but Favour notes there is scant evidence. Similar stories exist about him marrying a [Ute](/source/Ute_people) woman and being adopted by the tribe, but Favour is skeptical due to the lack of evidence; however, Williams was definitely fond of and close with some [Ute people](/source/Ute_people).[15] In the fall of 1832, [Albert Pike](/source/Albert_Pike) created a pen sketch of Williams while the two were traveling together.[16]

In 1833-1834, he accompanied [Joseph R. Walker](/source/Joseph_R._Walker) on his expedition to [California](/source/California).[1] Other members of the expedition included [Benjamin Bonneville](/source/Benjamin_Bonneville), [Joseph Meek](/source/Joseph_Meek), [Alexis Godey](/source/Alexis_Godey), [Antoine Janis](/source/Antoine_Janis), [William Craig](/source/William_Craig_(frontiersman)), [George Nidever](/source/George_Nidever), and [Zenas Leonard](/source/Zenas_Leonard).[17] Historian Michael Snyder noted that during this expedition he showed "utter disregard" for the lives of Indians.[18]

In the fall of 1840, he went trapping with [Kit Carson](/source/Kit_Carson) and other trappers near the [Green River](/source/Green_River_(Colorado_River_tributary)).[19] He spent 1841 and 1843 on expeditions to the Northwest and New Mexico.[1]

Historian Michael Snyder, an [Oklahoma State University](/source/Oklahoma_State_University) professor and [Osage Nation](/source/Osage_Nation) citizen, noted Williams's reputation declined as he aged. He wrote "Old Bill degenerated as he aged, becoming increasingly dirty, drunk, and dishonorable."[20] In one instance he's claimed to have killed 25 innocent Indians and he frequently stole horses from [Spanish](/source/Spanish_Empire) missions during his expeditions.[18]

### Frémont's fourth expedition and death

In November 1848, [John C. Fremont](/source/John_C._Fremont) hired Williams to guide his ill-fated [fourth expedition](/source/John_C._Fremont#Fourth_expedition_(1848–1849)) through the [Southern Rocky Mountains](/source/Southern_Rocky_Mountains).[1] Fremont sought to find a railroad route through the Rockies along the [38th parallel north](/source/38th_parallel_north). Williams warned Fremont against following his intended route through the [La Garita Mountains](/source/La_Garita_Mountains) in winter, but Fremont proceeded with his 35 men and 150 mules. The expedition eventually became hopelessly mired in deep snow and 11 men and all but a few of the pack animals died.[21] Williams led a rescue party south towards [Taos](/source/Taos%2C_New_Mexico), and the survivors of the expedition eventually managed to follow.[22]

In March, Williams and Dr. Benjamin Kern returned to the La Garita Mountains retracing the expedition trail to look for expedition notes, gear and survivors. On March 14, 1849, [Ute warriors](/source/Ute_people) killed Bill Williams and Dr. Kern in the mountains.[1]

## Honors

"Old Bill" is portrayed in an 8-foot-tall [bronze](/source/Bronze) sculpture by [B. R. Pettit](/source/B._R._Pettit), erected in 1980 in Bill Williams Monument Park in [Williams, Arizona](/source/Williams%2C_Arizona), a town named after him.[23] [Bill Williams Mountain](/source/Bill_Williams_Mountain) and the [Bill Williams River](/source/Bill_Williams_River) in Arizona, and [Bill Williams Peak](/source/Bill_Williams_Peak) and the [Williams Mountains](/source/Williams_Mountains) in Colorado are named for him.[1]

The [Bill Williams Mountain Men of Williams, Arizona](/source/Bill_Williams_Mountain_Men_of_Williams%2C_Arizona), founded in 1953, are named after him.[24]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Mathews married both of Williams' daughters.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Historian Michael Snyder notes this is similar to a traditional Osage name for a third daughter.[6]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Meehan_2-8) Meehan, James (December 2021). ["Williams, William Sherley"](https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/williams-william-sherley). *ncpedia.org*. [NCPedia](/source/NCPedia). Retrieved 3 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196222_3-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196224-25_4-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 24-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMathews1961vii_5-0)** [Mathews 1961](#CITEREFMathews1961), p. vii.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196239_6-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 39.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20178_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20178_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20178_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20178_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20178_7-4) [Snyder 2017](#CITEREFSnyder2017), p. 8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196242_8-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 42.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196247_9-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 47.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20179-10_11-0)** [Snyder 2017](#CITEREFSnyder2017), p. 9-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196252_12-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 52.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196258-59_13-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 58-59.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196260_14-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 60.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196261_15-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 61.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196264_16-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 64.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196271_17-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 71.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196275_18-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 75.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour196291_19-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 91.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder201710_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder201710_20-1) [Snyder 2017](#CITEREFSnyder2017), p. 10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFavour1962109_21-0)** [Favour 1962](#CITEREFFavour1962), p. 109.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESnyder20179_22-0)** [Snyder 2017](#CITEREFSnyder2017), p. 9.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Richmond_23-0)** Richmond, Patricia Joy (Summer 1987). ["Trail to Disaster: John C. Frémont's Fourth Exhibition into the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado"](https://taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org/images/AyerYHoy/051987Summer.pdf) (PDF). Ayer y Hoy en Taos. Taos County Historical Society. Retrieved December 21, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_24-0)** ["Williams, William Sherley"](https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/williams-william-sherley). *encyclopedia.com*. [The Columbia Encyclopedia](/source/The_Columbia_Encyclopedia). November 16, 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Howell_25-0)** Howell, Wendy (January 8, 2019). ["Out of the past: Bill Williams and the naming of a town"](https://www.williamsnews.com/news/2019/jan/08/out-past-bill-williams-and-naming-town/). *[Williams News](/source/Williams_News)*. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Old Bill' lives on: Bill Williams Mountain men"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101202084817/http://williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=63&SubSectionID=200&ArticleID=7661). *[Williams News](/source/Williams_News)*. April 26, 2009. Archived from [the original](http://williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=63&SubSectionID=200&ArticleID=7661) on December 2, 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

## Works cited

- Favour, Alpheus Hoyt (April 29, 1962). [*Old Bill Williams, Mountain Man*](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7591371W/Old_Bill_Williams?edition=key%3A/books/OL6336553M). University of Oklahoma Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780806116983](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780806116983) – via Google Books. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- [Mathews, John Joseph](/source/John_Joseph_Mathews) (1961). *The Osages:Children of the Middle Waters*. Norman: [University of Oklahoma Press](/source/University_of_Oklahoma_Press).

- Snyder, Michael (2017). *John Joseph Mathews: Life of an Osage Writer*. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8061-5609-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8061-5609-5).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [***Old Bill Williams***](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Old_Bill_Williams).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Old Bill Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bill_Williams) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bill_Williams?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.