Williams, Samuel Wells 1812-19..?

Samuel Wagoner Williams enlisted in Company D, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1862. He fought in the battles of Antietam and Fredricksburg. Williams survived the Civil War and returned home to Onondaga County. He lived until January 12, 1917.

Samuel Woodrow Williams (b. 1912 d. 1970) was an educator, minister, civic leader, and civil rights advisor. Williams came to Atlanta in 1947 to teach at his alma mater, Morehouse College. He was Chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion from 1947 to 1970. Williams was an assistant pastor for seven years at Friendship Baptist Church, before he became the pastor in 1954. He remained in that position until his death in 1970. Williams was also quite active in public life. He was a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council, participated in the Atlanta bus boycott of 1959, chaired the Atlanta Community Relations Commission, and was President of the Atlanta Branch of the NAACP.