Gila Valley History: George Williams Sr. and Lydia Ferrin Williams, and Samuel Orvel Williams and Helen Viola Rogers Williams

Contributed Article By Edres Bryant Barney/Eastern Arizona Museum & Historical Society

George Williams Sr. and Lydia Ferrin Williams

George W. Williams, Sr., and Lydia Ferrin Williams arrived in the Gila Valley in 1885 (Pima was 6 years old). George was born on Jan. 15, 1845, and Lydia on March 8, 1852. They came from Utah, first to Taylor, Arizona, then to Luna Valley, New Mexico. Eventually, they landed in Safford, then Thatcher, finally in Pima, where they took up land, started the Lime and Brick business, and acquired the name “Brick Williams.”

Samuel Orvel Williams and Helen Viola Rogers Williams

Sam Orville was 8 years old when he arrived in the Gila Valley to settle in Pima with his parents, George Sr. and Lydia Ferrin Williams. His boyhood was typical of pioneer youth of that era, going to school and helping his father in the brick business as well as helping farmers in the fields.

At the age of 21, Sam married Helen Viola Rogers. She was the daughter of Joseph K. and Josephine Wall Rogers, among Pima’s first settlers.

Helen and Sam were the parents of eight children: Violet, Cleopha, Byron, Joe, Lydia, Orvel, Helen, and Philip.

Sam and Helen lived almost all their lives in Pima, always active in community organizations and helping build up the area. He served three terms in the state legislature. In 1942, they sold their farm in Pima and moved to Safford, where they were active in the Graham County Old Folks Committee. Sam died on Oct. 1, 1952. Lacking a few days, being 13 years a widow, Helen passed away on Sept. 21, 1965. They are both buried in the Pima Cemetery.

Information on these pioneers who were early in the story of the settlement of this area may be found at the Eastern Arizona Museum in Pima, Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.