From Matagorda County History & Genealogy page
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. C.H. Williams was born and lived on a lower Caney Creek plantation that was near the site of the former community of Gainesmore/At Last.
The following is taken from his obituary in the Matagorda County News & Midcoast Farmer, March 28, 1916.
Dr. C.H. “Kit” Williams was the oldest native of Matagorda County when he died March 27, 1916 at the age of 78.
“Williams was an active, useful and honorable citizen of the county, seeking no office but lending influence always and in every way to the public welfare,” the obituary reads.
“He has been failing in strength for the last two or three months.
“He spent a week here about ten days ago the guest with his wife of Dr. and Mrs. H.L. Rugeley, and feeling better returned to his home at Gainesmore.
“One day last week Dr. Rugeley, hearing of his illness, went down and on Saturday brought his life long friend to the hospital, where on Monday he peacefully bid adieu to wife and friends and his spirit took its flight to the God who gave it.”
Robert H. Williams, father of Dr. C.H. Williams, was born in Caswell county, N.C., Oct. 10, 1796, moved to Mississippi when grown, and from Mississippi, came to Matagorda county with one of Stephen F. Austin’s first colonies, landing at Matagorda in 1823.
He opened up a farm on Caney in 1824, maintaining his home in Matagorda for many years.
There in 1825 he was appointed by the Spanish authorities of Mexico the first alcalde for this section of Texas.
He was elected a delegate to the convention which sent Austin on a mission to Mexico, was in several fights with Indians, and was wounded in the battle with the Mexicans at Velasco May 17, 1832, where he lost one eye from gunshot wound.
Williams was married to Miss Mary Lawson White, daughter of one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
He was in the civil war and like most of others lost all in that conflict but his plantation.
Dr. Williams was born February 28, 1838, at their home in the stockade on the Caney plantation.
Educated at Nashville and in the Louisiana School of Medicine at New Orleans, he returned to planting in 1850, and to the practice of his profession.
In 1861 he enlisted for the war, and was appointed by President Jefferson Davis, First Lieutenant, reporting to General Hebert at Houston.
He saw service in Louisiana and Texas, with the troops defending the coast, having charge of the garrison at the mouth of the Brazos for a while.
For many years a couple of shells which were fired at him from a Federal gunboat ornamented his gate posts on Caney.
Later he was promoted to a captaincy.
At the close of the war he was married to Miss Theresa Herbert, daughter of Dr. Herbert, a native of this county, to which union came four children.
Mrs. Williams died in 1873.
Dr. Williams was married a second time to Mrs. Alice B. Heidt, a granddaughter of Dixon H. Lewis of Alabama, and a sister of the wife of the late Judge E.S. Rugeley; and this union was blessed with five children.
Dr. Williams’ present wife was Mrs. Nannie Gunn of Virginia. They were married in 1914.
The Dr. was not a member of any society or church, but his life was an open book of kindness and good deeds - an upright man, a patriotic citizen, a faithful friend, he was loved and honored by all with whom he came in contact.
The funeral took place at the home of the friend of his boyhood, Dr. H.L. Rugeley, the service being conducted by Rev. J. F. Carter of the Methodist Church there and at the grave in Cedarvale Cemetery.
The pallbearers were: Judge Wm. E. Austin, D.P. Moore, Louis Le Tulle, Judge W. C. Carpenter of Bay City and Geo. B. Culver and F.L. Rugeley of Matagorda.
At the conclusion of the service, the grave was covered with tokens of affection and esteem. Spring’s choicest flowers, Love’s most beautiful token.