WILLIAMS, Jesse Lynch, civil engineer, born in Westfield, Stokes County, North Carolina, 6 May, 1807; died in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 9 October, 1886. His ancestors, English Quakers, came to Maryland about 1700. His parents, who adhered to the same faith, removed to Cincinnati in 1814, and subsequently to a place near Richmond, Indiana The son was first a rod-man and then an engineer on the preliminary survey for the Miami and Erie canal, and continued in the service of the state of Ohio from 1824 till 1832, when he was appointed by Indiana chief engineer of the Wabash and Erie canal. In 1837 he became chief engineer of all the internal improvements of the state, including about 1,300 miles of canals, railroads, and other works. In 1853 he became chief engineer of the Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad, and in 1856, after its consolidation with other roads to form the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago road, he became a director. From 1864 till his resignation in 1869 he was appointed annually a government director of the Union Pacific railroad and devoted himself to securing the best location through the Rocky mountains. He was chief engineer and receiver of the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad in 1869-'71, and was connected with other roads. Mr. Williams was active in the councils of the Presbyterian church, and served as a director of the Theological seminary of the northwest from its organization till his death. A discourse on his life by the Reverend David W. Moffat, D.D., was printed privately (Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1886).