Brief guide to manuscripts collections| William L. Clements Library The University of Michigan John R. Williams Papers |
John R. Williams was born in Detroit, where his family had moved from Albany, N.Y. He joined the army, serving under General Wilkinson in 1796 at Fort Marsac, Tenn. After 1799 he acted as a contractor's agent for the firm of Ormsby & Wilson, supplying Fort Massac and later the post of Wilkinsonville, Randolph Co., Ind. Williams served in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner when Detroit fell. After the war he returned to Detroit, where he opened a general mercantile business. Throughout his life Williams was prominent in Michigan politics, serving as mayor of Detroit for six different terms between 1824 and 1846.
Papers of John R. Williams, merchant, Michigan politician.
This collection deals entirely with Williams' early activities as agent for Ormsley & Wilson. It contains receipts, reports, contracts, and correspondence relating to supplies for Fort Marsac and Wilkinsonville.
Transferred from Michigan Historical Collections, 1973
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