Resources
Secondary resources which document the Williams nearly 300 years of business and civic history are outlined below with their links
Since the 1700s the Williams have been in regional media in the Natchez MS area, such as in newspaper articles, Williams have owned properties with national significance and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (i.e. Longwood and Gloucester in Natchez), most of the generations being part of the business and civic executives in the local regions to streets being named after several of them among other things
David Williams (1743-1792) was one of the wealthiest persons in the Natchez District (Florida to Mississippi) link here
David became one of the largest timber / lumber producers in the U.S. (link) and the largest tobacco producer in the Spanish Empire and American colonies in the 1780s-1790s. (link) He was also had one of the largest slaveholding in the U.S. with hundreds of slaves working on 11,000+ acres of several plantations that he owned in several states.
David Williams heirs through the generations, from the 1790s until now in the 2020s with his heir Anton R. Williams, continue to operate his various plantations which today are largely agricultural acres, timberland, oil and gas fields. (link)
David Williams was the first person in the family line elected to a public office. He was short a time on the inaugural council of assemblymen in the 1760s. (link)
David P. Williams (1822-1881), the grandson and heir of David Williams (through the the latter son, James C. Williams (1790-1830), continued the business operations in his era. (link) Although he was one of the largest slaveholders in America, (link) David P. Williams had emancipated at least one of his slaves, Ellen, who he inherited as part of a large slaveholding after his father James C. Williams passed away in 1830. (http://library.uncg.edu/slavery/petitions/pDetailsNew.aspx?pID=1578&s=2). David Williams was also involved in government, business and social civil operations. (link)
Archie P. Williams, (1843-1928) was a mixed race son born to David P. Williams (1822-1881) and his ex-slave freed woman Ellen Jones. (1816-1891) Archie was born a free person of color during the era of slavery, he was educated and given a large share of the Williams family estate. Archie P. Williams ruled over the family plantations and the real estate, timber, cotton and tobacco businesses, which now included ownership of over 300,000 acres in several states from Michigan, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi and others. In addition to being a plantation owner in the era of slavery and owner of several manufacturing corporations post slavery, Archie P. was also one of the top civic leaders in the Natchez MS region. (link) (link)
Archie J. Williams (1908 - 1958), grandson and heir of Archie P. Williams became a civic leader as well as business owner. His role as council member helped expand the energy industry in several states.
Odell Williams (1935-2003), son and heir of Archie J. Williams, was a civic leader holding alderman/council member positions (link) in addition to carrying out his role in family business operations
Anton R. Williams of Kalamazoo MI and Grand Rapids MI, is a grandson of Odell Williams. Anton is the majority owner of the family holdings still centered in the Natchez MS area but include operations in several states. As a grandson of Odell and one of his heir through his parent on the Williams side (link) Anton has been majority owner (90%) and operated the family estate since the 2020s. He uses the Anton R. Williams Holding Co HQ in Grand Rapids - Kalamazoo, which still includes several hundred thousand acres of real estate, oil and gas fields, timber and financial accounts for which Anton is the 100% owner. These are held within trust fund (link) and the Anton R. Williams Foundation to continue the business and civic history and legacy of the Williams family for 9 straight generations since David Williams in the 1700s.