William Iiams, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Ohio, August 9, 1833, and is the son of William and Mary (Browning) Iiams, parents, natives of Maryland. William Iiams, Sr., grew to manhood in his native State, and in 1819 immigrated to Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He moved, in 1837, to Jay County, Ind., where he cleared a farm, and where he died in the winter of 1842. His widow soon after moved to Grant County, where she was again married, in 1846. She was left a widow the second time in 1867, and departed this life July 17, 1883. The subject was four years of age when brought to Indiana, and until his eighth year resided in Jay County. He came with his parents to Grant County in 1842, and at the age of fourteen was thrown upon his own resources. He worked as a farm laborer at 12 ½ cents per day, and continued in that employment until reaching his twentieth year. He went to Illinois in 1852, thence to Blackford County, Ind., one year later, where he began farming for himself as a renter. In 1855 he went to Nebraska and located a claim, and the same year settled in Shelby County, Iowa, where he was doomed to undergo some of the greatest hardships and privations possible for a human being to suffer. He remained in Iowa until 1859, which time he sold out and immigrated to California, making the trip in company with a number of others, and meeting with many startling adventures on the journey. On reaching their destination Mr. Iiams engaged as a common laborer, while his wife did housework for her board. He afterward worked at millwrights and anything else he could find to do, and for some time traveled quite extensively over the State. He took a claim at one time, and after a short residence thereon disposed of it and entered 280 acres in another part of the State, upon which he lived until 1867, farming and teaming in the meantime. In the latter year he located 320 acres of land, 156 of which he put in cultivation the first year, and the second year sowed the entire tract in wheat and barley, harvesting there from 9,000 bushels of grain. He disposed of his farm in 1873, and returned to Grant County, Ind., April 22, 1840. Seven children have been born to this union, two of whom, Mary L. and George M., are living. Mr. Iiams is a republican in politics, and a member of the Old Fellows' Fraternity. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also Mrs. Iiams, belonging to the Jonesboro congregation.

History of Grant County Indiana
Published in 1886
by Brant & Fuller