Tenth Generation

8898. Homer B. WILLIAMS⁴⁵⁵ was born on 16 October 1865 in Chaseville, Noble, Ohio.⁴⁵⁵

He appeared in the census on 9 June 1880 in Buffalo, Noble, Ohio. Age 14, born Ohio, parents born Ohio, living with parents. Name on census: Homer Williams.

He appeared in the census on 1 June 1900 in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio. Age 34, born Oct 1865 Ohio, parents born Ohio. He was the Superintendent of public schools and he had been married 10 years. His household included his wife Cora B., 32, and sons Lloyd B., 8, and John L, 3. Name on census: Homer Williams.

Homer appeared in the census on 16 April 1910 in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio. Age 43, born Ohio, parents born Ohio. He was the Superintendent of Public Schools and he had been married 19 years. His household included his wife Cara S., 42, and children Lloyd B., 18; John L., 13; Elbert, 9; and Mary, 4. Name on census: Homer Williams.

He appeared in the census on 2 January 1920 in Bowling Green, Wood, Ohio. Age 54, born Ohio, parents born Ohio. He was the President of a Normal College and his household included his wife Cora B., 52, and children John L., 23; Elbert H., 19; and Mary E., 14. Name on census: Homer B. Williams.

He appeared in the census on 19 April 1930 in Bowling Green, Wood, Ohio. Age 63, born Ohio, parents born Ohio. He was the President of the State College and he had first married at age 25. His household included his wife Cora B., 63. Name on census: Homer B. Williams.

Homer died on 29 September 1943 at the age of 77 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio.⁴⁵⁵

He was President, Bowling Green State University, 1912-1937

Homer B. Williams was born to John and Mary (Secrest) Williams on October 16, 1865, in Mt. Ephraim, Ohio. After graduating from high school, he entered Ohio Northern and received a bachelor of Arts degree from that institution. He continued his education at Baldwin-Wallace and completed graduate degrees there and at Columbia University in New York City.

His career as a teacher started in the rural and village schools in 1885 and he quickly moved from teaching to more administrative positions. He was superintendent of schools at Dunkirk, Ohio from 1887 to 1889. He served successively in similar capacities at various Ohio school districts:

Caldwell (1889-1992), Kenton (1892-1894) and Cambridge (1894-1898), before being appointed as superintendent at Sandusky, a position he held until 1912. In May of 1912, Williams accepted the position of president of the newly organized normal college in Bowling Green, Ohio. He remained president until his retirement in 1937. He was named as head of the Bureau of Alumni Relations and then returned as interim president in 1938 when the current president, Dr. Offenhauer, was killed in an automobile accident. He then stepped down when the next president, Frank Prout, was hired in 1939. When Williams retired, the institution had grown from a normal school to a state university, from an original faculty of 15 to one numbering over one hundred, and a student enrollment of 153 to that of over 1800. Its campus had grown from the original Administration Building to nine buildings.

While a student at Ohio Northern, Williams met another student, Cora Brewer, and the two were married in 1890. Their children were Lloyd, John, Elbert and Mary Elizabeth. Both were actively involved in the Bowling Green community. Williams took a leadership role within the community, specifically the Methodist Church, Kiwanis, the Town and Gown Club, and the Chamber of Commerce. Williams died on September 22, 1943 and his wife died September 5, 1954.

Williams Hall is named in his honor.

Homer B. WILLIAMS and Cora Belle BREWER were married on 12 June 1890 in Ohio.⁴⁵⁵

Cora Belle BREWER⁴⁵⁵, daughter of Emery BREWER and Cynthia LAPHAM, was born on 9 July 1867 in Marion, Marion, Ohio.⁴⁵⁵

She appeared in the census on 8 June 1880 in Grand Prarie, Marion, Ohio. Age 12, born Ohio, father born New York, mother Ohio, living with widowed mother. Name on census: Cora Brewer.

She appeared in the census on 1 June 1900 in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio. Age 32, born July 1867 Ohio, parents born Ohio. She had been married 10 years and had 2 children. She was living with husband Homer and their 2 sons. Name on census: Cora B. Williams.

Cora appeared in the census on 16 April 1910 in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio. Age 42, born Ohio, parents born Ohio. She had been married 19 years and was living with husband Homer and their 4 children. Name on census: Cora S. Williams.

She appeared in the census on 2 January 1920 in Bowling Green, Wood, Ohio. Age 52, born Ohio, parents born Ohio, living with husband Homer and 3 of their children. Name on census: Cora B. Williams.

She appeared in the census on 19 April 1930 in Bowling Green, Wood, Ohio. Age 63, born Ohio, parents born Ohio. She had first married at age 24 and was living with husband Homer. Name on census: Cora B. Williams.

Cora died on 5 September 1954 at the age of 87 in Vermilion, Lorain, Ohio.⁴⁵⁵

Homer B. WILLIAMS-69736 and Cora Belle BREWER-69738 had the following children: