John Charles Williams (1895-1918)

Born in Pittsburgh on Sept. 17, 1895, John Charles Williams was the son of two Welch immigrants: Evan Williams, a carpenter, and Mary Ann Charles Williams. There was one older sister, Elizabeth Williams.
Sadly, mother Mary Ann died from pulmonary tuberculosis when John was just three. Father Evan eventually married Katherine Morgan Williams. The couple had four additional children: Evan Morgan Williams, Charlotte M. Williams, Katherine May Williams, and Sarah E. Williams. The family owned a home at 213 Rebecca Street.
According to Williams’ World War I Draft Reservation Card, Williams had now moved to 5141 Kinkaid Street, which was the home of his maternal grandfather, John D. Charles. Williams was described as short and slender, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was employed as a clerk for a wholesale grocer, and he indicated he was the sole support of his “invalid sister,” as father Evan had died in March 1917 from pneumonia--three months before his youngest child was born.
The “invalid” was apparently his older sister Elizabeth, who, like her mother, suffered from tuberculosis. Elizabeth died in December 1917. The family appeared to be under a lot of stress, as their half-sister Katherine had died from diptheria the year before at the age of 4.
Williams was inducted into the Army on Feb. 12, 1918 as a private assigned to Company F, 320th Infantry. By the time he enlisted, he was working for the Carbon Steel Company. He trained at Camp Lee (now Fort Gregg-Adams), and left for France in May. His military engagements are not reported in his Veterans Service and Compensation files, but it is noted that he was promoted to Corporal on Aug. 15.
According to the Pittsburgh Post, “In letters to more distant relatives and friends, he wrote of the manner in which his unit was being moved nearer and nearer the battle line and into earshot of the heavy artillery, but he never permitted his grandparents to know that he was on the verge of actual fighting.” The grandparents apparently had no idea Williams was even in France before they received the telegram announcing his death in late September.
John Charles Williams died three days after his promotion, on Aug. 18, 1918. He was buried at Allegheny Cemetery in 1921.