On August 12, 1862, fourteen-year-old Williams left farm work behind and joined Company F of the 48th Indiana Infantry to serve in the American Civil War.

[1][3] Williams, who was probably a drummer boy, soon became popular in the service providing entertainment that helped alleviate the daily boredom of camp life.

Over his career Williams would not only pen a number of popular comic songs but also a few sentimental ones, such as See that my Grave is Kept Clean, Pretty Little Dark Blue Eyes and Don’t Forget Mother.

On January 16, 1915, Williams had a meeting with his booking agent, J. J. Armstrong, in New York and on his return trip home sent his sister-in-law a telegraph message from the Getty Square Train Station in Yonkers, asking her to tend to his wife Emma who was not well.

There was no suicide note, leaving family and friends to speculate on why he ended his life, though health issues and career concerns would appear to have topped the list.