Biography

Colonel Levi Williams (1794-1860) was a Baptist minister and member of the Illinois militia. He actively opposed the presence of the Latter-day Saints in Hancock County, Illinois, in the 1840s, and was one of five men tried and acquitted for the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

Colonel Levi Williams was born April 8, 1794, in Madison, Kentucky, to ohn H. Williams and Elizabeth Collins. He married Mary Reid on December 27, 1814, in Madison, Kentucky, and they had five children. In the early 1830s, Levi and his family moved from Kentucky to Green Plains in Hancock County, Illinois. He was a farmer and cooper, occasionally preached as a Baptist minister, and was a county commissioner in charge of building roads. In 1835, he was given a commission as captain of the 59th regiment of the Illinois militia; five years later, in 1840, he became its colonel and commanding officer.

When Latter-day Saints began settling in Hancock County in the late 1830s and early 1840s, Williams quickly became a fierce opponent. In 1843, he led the militia that kidnapped Church member Daniel Avery and his son, threatened them with weapons, and let them go in Missouri.

After the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844, Levi was accused of having ordered his regiment to participate in storming the jail, but he and four others were acquitted of the charges by a jury. Williams was said to have told "Wild Bill" Hickman that the Saints held too much political influence in the county, and that killing the Smiths was the only way to get rid of them.

After the trial, Levi served as postmaster of Green Plains until his death due to a stroke on November 20, 1860.

Citation:

FamilySearch, March 16, 2023 (Colonel Levi Williams; Born 8 April 1794, in Madison, Kentucky, to John H. Williams and Elizabeth Collins; married Mary Reid on 27 December 1814, in Madison, Kentucky; 5 children; died 27 November 1860, in Warsaw, Illinois. Wikipedia, March 8, 2023 (Levi Williams, 1794-1860; Baptist minister, member of Illinois militia; actively opposed presence of Latter-day Saints in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1840s; was one of five men tried and acquitted for murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith; early 1830s, moved with family Kentucky to Green Plains, Hancock County, Illinois; farmer and cooper, occasional work as Baptist minister, county commissioner in charge of building roads; 1835, given commission as captain of 59th regiment of Illinois militia; 1840, became colonel and commanding officer; when Latter-day Saints began settling in Hancock County in the late 1830s and early 1840s, he quickly became fierce opponent; 1843, led militia that kidnapped Church member Daniel Avery and son, threatened them with weapons, let them go in Missouri; after murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail, June 27, 1844, accused of having ordered regiment to participate in storming jail; he and four others acquitted of charges by jury; said to have told "Wild Bill" Hickman that Saints held too much political influence in county, killing Smiths was only way to get rid of them; after trial, served as postmaster of Green Plains until death due to stroke)

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