Richmond in Fort Bend County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Williams Family

Photographed by Madeleine Schimmer, June 8, 2023

1. Williams Family Marker

Inscription.
The southeastern road into Richmond is named Williams Way Boulevard after the Williams Family who shaped the area's history. Joseph Crawley Williams, Sr., born in the 1838 in Louisiana, came to Fort Bend County in 1860 after earning a law degree in Tennessee. He was a Captain in the Civil War 1861-1865. He served the county as Justice of the Peace (1869-1878), County Judge (1878-1880) and County Attorney (1886-1888). Williams married Annie L. Collins (1841-1863); they had one son. He later married Anna Maria Calder (1847-1923), daughter of Battle of San Jacinto hero Robert Calder. They had four daughters. Joseph, Sr. purchased hundreds of acres of land near Richmond, later passed down to his descendants.

After his death in 1888, his son Joseph Crawley Williams, Jr. (1861-1921) expanded the land holdings, and worked as an agent and chief dispatcher for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He married Lola Nation (1867-1956), stepdaughter of the famous prohibitionist Carrie Nation. They had three sons and one daughter. After Joseph, Jr. died, his son Manford Nation Williams (1897-1982) took over the Williams family property

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to continue ranching and farming. He served on the area school board for 26 years from 1930 and saw to the development and expansion of the area school system. Manford Williams Elementary School was named for him in 1985. He married Margaret Steed (1914-2006) in 1943 and had one daughter, who with her daughters manages the Williams family interests. Members of the Williams family are buried in Morton Cemetery in Richmond.

Erected 2015 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18114.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 29° 33.256′ N, 95° 43.109′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Texas, in Fort Bend County. It can be reached from Williams Way Boulevard near U.S. 59. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richmond TX 77469, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area.

It is also on the American Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Photographed by Madeleine Schimmer, June 8, 2023

2. Williams Family Marker

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mrs. Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Second Mrs. Lamar (approx. 2½ miles away); Lamar Moves to Richmond (approx. 2½ miles away); Cisterns (approx. 2½ miles away); Site of the Home of Mirabeau B. Lamar (approx. 2½ miles away); Natural tributes of the Site (approx. 2½ miles away); The Lamar Slaves (approx. 2½ miles away); Lamar's Last Years in Richmond (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Photographed by Madeleine Schimmer, June 8, 2023

3. Williams Family Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2023, by Madeleine Schimmer of Richmond, Texas. This page has been viewed 672 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on December 26, 2025, by Joe Lotz of Flower Mound, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 8, 2023, by Madeleine Schimmer of Richmond, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.