WILLIAM IAMS. Prominent among the progressive farmers of West Bethlehem township is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is a grandson of John Iams, a native of New Jersey, who in early manhood removed to this county, where he secured a patent for nearly one thousand acres of land in West Bethlehem and Amwell townships, nearly all of which land is yet in the possession of his descendants. His children were: John, Mary, Sarah, Nancy, Charity and William, all of whom were born in Amwell township, where they lived and died respected citizens. William Iams, son of John the pioneer, was born, in 1782, near Martins mill, Amwell township, and received a liberal education in the common branches of the subscription schools. He married Delilah, daughter of Elisha Meek, one of the early settlers of Greene county, Penn., and to them were born the following named children: Betsey (deceased), Miller James, John H. (deceased), Elisha, Thomas, Isaac, William, Delilah Johnson, Mrs. Mary Bigler (deceased), Abraham (deceased) and Rachel Smith. Abraham died in the service of his country at the battle of Fair Oaks, while a member of the Eighty-fifth P. V. I., serving under Capt. Sellers. Miller Iams resides in Ritchie county, W. Va., where he is a well-known farmer; Delilah Johnson and Thomas live in Greene county, Penn.; Isaac resides in Amwell township; Elisha, William and Rachel are residents of West Bethlehem township. The father of this family was a Christian, and a member of the Baptist Church; a brilliant Bible scholar and faithful toiler in the service of his Master. He was a Democrat of the Old School, but, aside from doing his duty at the polls, was not prominently identified with politics. His death took place in 1868, aged seventy-nine years. His wife died in 1877, aged eighty-four years. William Iams, son of William and Delilah Iams, was born March 2, 1830, on the old homestead farm still retained in his possession. In early manhood he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed five years, when he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, in which he has been very successful. He married February 9, 1854, Eliza, a daughter of Zebulon and Catherine Ferrel, a native of New Jersey, and an early setter of Washington county. They have the following family: Sadie F., John H. (deceased), an infant (deceased) and Laura A. Mrs. Eliza Iams died July 8, 1863, and on February 13, 1870, he married Mary, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Swihart. The children born to this union were: Etta R. (deceased), Lizzie B. (deceased), William J., Mary E., Miller A., Clark J., Isaac W., Charlie P. and Iris M. Miss Laura A. Iams, who married Samuel Greenlee, resides in Amwell township, also Sadie, married to James Hufford. Mr. Iams is a remarkably intelligent man, and an active member of the Democratic party, who have shown their appreciation for him by electing him to township offices of trust, which he has filled with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and an ardent believer in the teachings of our Lord. The home farm consists of 127 acres of very good land, upon which he raises a fine breed of cattle and sheep.

Text taken from page 698 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed September 1997 by Paula Talbert of Caldwell, OH as part of the Beers Project. Published September 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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