Uncle Richard Williams, better known as Dick, was the first of the twelve Wiliams children to pass away, and he was a young adult. Dick's obituary, which was rather flowery, lists the cause of death as "dropsy." Dropsy is an illness, the symptoms of which are an increase in fluids around tissues of the body, primarily the abdomen. It can be either environmental or caused by organ failure.

From what I was told through family stories, Dick's legs would fill with fluid. Doctors would tap the legs to drain the liquid, but this was to no avail and the fluid would redevelop. He was wheelchair bound the last period of his life.

Rumor was that Dick also had a drinking problem. His uncle Sam also reportedly had a drinking problem as well. Being essentially immobile, Dick would have needed an accomplice and apparently family was willing to accommodate. Since there was no known cure for dropsy, family probably did what they could to make him comfortable.
by Bob Williams
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Obituary
Richard N. Williams, second son of Yewell (sic) and Mary Williams, was born Jan. 22, 1879; died Aug. 30, 1905, aged 26 years, 7 months and 8 day. He was sick with paralysis and dropsy four months and for seven weeks never laid down and died sitting in his chair. He was conscious to the last. He looked up at his father's face and smiled, gasped once and was gone. Much of the time he suffered severe pain, yet he never complained or spoke a cross word, and to all who asked him how he felt always replied, "Oh, I'm better."

"Dick" as he was always called, had a genial, good-natured disposition that made friends with everyone he met, especially children. The esteem in which he was held by the neighborhood was manifested by many acts of kindness and regard. Every little delicacy that could be got was sent in to him and through all his long illness there was never a day or night but there was somebody to help take care of him. These many manifestations of love and esteem for Dick is like balm to the hearts of the bereaved family. Of twelve children Dick is the first broken link in the family chain. - Communicated.

Son of Euell Kennel Williams and Mary Malinda Barber

Siblings: Lucy Ann Williams Haymaker 1873-1956, Amelia Williams Lane Vaughn 1875-1963, George M Williams 1877-1959, Samuel H Williams 1882-1959, Oliver Francis Williams 1884-1966, Joseph Adelbert Williams 1887-1966, Arvilla Elitha Williams 1890-1917, Mae Julia Williams 1892-1971, Edith Mary Williams 1894-1967, Elizabeth Williams 1898- , Raymond Christopher Williams 1901-1975