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George Washington Williams was born in March 1832 to Joseph and Melinda on land his grandfather settled near the famous Howland Spring that attracted so many settlers.
The 1860 census listed his father as a carpenter-farmer and George as a sawyer. He undoubtedly helped his father and was very familiar with horses.
President Abraham Lincoln called for the states to organize military units after South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, sparking the Civil War.
On Nov. 30, 1861, Williams enlisted in the 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry for three years with Capt. Richart of Company G. The 6th O.V.C was formed in Warren and the ladies of Warren presented it with a flag.
It drilled on the old fairgrounds until they went to Camp Chase, near Columbus, to guard secessionist prisoners. In May 1862, the cavalry went to Virginia after Gen. Stonewall Jackson.
In the Rappahannock Valley in Virginia, the men were under fire for 14 days, their horses were not unsaddled for days, and the horses and men had little rest. Aug. 29, 1862, was the second Battle of Manassas or the Battle of Bull Run.
In October of 1862, the 6th O.V.C. patroled the old battlefield where rain had washed soil from shallow graves. June 1862 saw the cavalry in skirmishes at Aldie on June 9, Middleburg on June 17 and Upperville on June 21. These battles now are included in the Gettysburg Campaign. Guarding the supply wagons during the Gettysburg battle, they then pursued the Southern Army as it retreated to Virginia.
On June 11, 1863, Williams' father Joseph died in a farming accident.
On Sept. 1, 1863, Williams and 21 other troops were captured at Barber's Cross Roads, Virginia. An article was in the Western Reserve Chronicle on Dec. 23, 1863, titled "Starving of Prisoners of War." This tells of Williams' capture along with two men from Warren -- Frank Shaffer, who died, and Shannon Harmond, who was never accounted for.
They were taken to Belle Isle Prison Camp, an island in the James River near Richmond. Other prisoners took Williams' blanket and coat. Rations were cut to a quarter then an eighth and his tent was stolen.
That 1863 winter was exceptionally cold and brutal in Virginia. He was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, on Nov. 18. His captors realized that he could not return to the cavalry.
On Nov. 27, 1863, he wrote his family telling details of his imprisonment and saying that he felt he would recover. He died that night.
The 6th O.V.C. was at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1864, for the surrender. Williams had been brought home to Howland and buried at Seely Cemetery. His gravestone has 6th O.V.C., Co. G across the top with crossed swords, laurel and ribbons and carved words "My Life for My Country."