True W. Williams lived to age fifty-eight, from 1839-1897.  He was born in Allegany County, New York, on March 22, 1839, and named Truman W. Williams.

True Williams is best known as the illustrator for Mark Twain, and is especially remembered today for his illustrations of Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn in Mark Twain's 1876 Tom Sawyer American classic.

"Friend Williams:
Your pictures get a deal more praise
than do the sketches of your humble servant"
- Mark Twain.

His wife, Carrie M. Williams died in Hinsdale, Illinois, on July 25, 1885. Years later in 1897, True Williams died in Chicago, and was there after buried near his wife Carrie and infant son Truman Paul, both of whom had been buried years earlier in Torode ( aka York ) Cemetery near Salt Creek, about four miles north-northwest of Hinsdale, Illinois.

When the tide of progress came to the growing Oak Brook village in the 1960's, Torode Cemetery needed to be relocated due to various projects. Fortunately for True W. Williams, the magnanimous patron of Oak Brook Illinois, Paul Butler, had a private family cemetery where True W. Williams was moved to with Carrie Williams, and where they rest together to this day. Some of those originally buried in Torode Cemetery who were moved to the Butler cemetery in Oak Brook were never re-identified.
 

The grave of True W. Williams today
in Butler Cemetery of Oak Brook, IL

The Oak tree over the grave of True W. Williams
in Butler Cemetery, of Oak Brook, IL

The headstone over the grave of True W. Williams,
in Oak Brook, IL

The headstone over the grave of Carrie M. Heath Williams,
in Oak Brook, IL

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The Oak tree over the graves of True & Carrie Williams
in Butler Cemetery, Oak Brook, IL

The corner of Butler Cemetery where the graves of True 
& Carrie Williams are located

Fullersburg was formerly known by the local Potawatomi as "Sauganakka".
The local Potawatomi called Salt Creek “Wewanippissee”,
which means “the pretty little river”.

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The 1876 Tom Sawyer of True W. Williams

For visitors convenience, click here for a detailed map

Link to Twain Quotes website, for more information
about True Williams
 

All the above color photos were taken on 8/28/2011
by Jos. Pashka ( 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌺𐍃 )

Other Related Local Historic Sites

1873 Hinsdale Advertisement

The Old Inn & Tavern "where Lincoln slept ", Fullersburg Illinois

The Castle Inn & Tavern was located on Ogden Ave, East of York Rd.
( then Walker Rd. ) and West of Elm, in what is now called Hinsdale IL.
Hinsdale was first called Brush Hill, then renamed to Fullersburg in 1851.
It is said the Castle Inn & Tavern was built in 1834 by relatives of U.S. Grant,
Oriente Grant & brother David, and was later turned into an Antique store
between the World Wars. Eventually, it was torn down.

The road from Chicago to Fullersburg was once
a wooden planked Toll Road about 8 feet wide.
Ogden Avenue was formerly known as "The Southwest Trail".
Odds are True Williams may have visited this Inn & Tavern,
as it was said Abraham Lincoln did earlier.

 
The Castle Inn & Tavern on Ogden Ave.
It was used as the Brush Hill Post Office,
with Oriente Grant as it's first postmaster.
 

The Old Graue Mill on Salt Creek, Fullersburg Illinois

The Graue Mill on Salt Creek - prior to restoration completed
in 1943 that was started by the CCC in the Thirties.

The Old Graue Mill on Salt Creek,
Fullersburg Illinois

The Graue Mill on Salt Creek - prior to 1943 restoration,
located West of York Rd., in what is now Oak Brook IL

The Old Hinsdale C. B. & Q. Railroad Station

The Hinsdale C.B. & Q. Train Station - circa 1909
The railroad line was started during the Civil War,
and a "Brush Hill" ( aka Hinsdale ) station completed by 1864.
The Highland station was added in 1873.

Carrie M. Williams probably took the train to Hinsdale IL,
where she died on July 25,1885.

~ The late Curtis Cade was also a notable from Fullersburg ~