Alfred Williams was born in Canada in 1798. In 1838, he moved to Rockford, Illinois. He remained there until 1846, when he came to Jo Daviess County, Illinois. He was married to Martha R. Marsh in the State of New York on March 10, 1827.
They had seven children: Angeline C. (January 28, 1828), Maria (November 9, 1833), Russell A. (September 10, 1837) — he enlisted in Co. F, 12th Regt. I. V. I. and served until June, 1864; Providence (January 25, 1840) Louisa (October 7, 1846), Mary Ann (April 27, 1830), and George Wesley (December 3, 1853).
In Jo Daviess County, Alfred and his youngest son George owned 130 acres of land together. Alfred passed away on January 16, 1882 and was buried in Townsend Cemetery in Jo Daviess County.