Francis Marion Williams

Francis Marion Williams was a farmer from Sheffield, Tennessee. In August 1911, a fascinating series of events detailed by the Washington Post brought him to the White House. According to the article, he found out that his former fiancee, Lulu Price, whom he had lost contact with, was somewhere near Washington, D.C. or Virginia. Miss Price had previously married, but had gotten a divorce and had traveled back to Tennessee and attempted to make contact with Williams. However, he was not home at the time and she did not leave her address. When he finally discovered her location, he traveled to Washington where his money ran out. As a result, he sought employment with the “White House gardener” because Williams was “an efficient landscape artist” and was “immediately put to work.” He told the paper, “I left home only after a great deal of serious thought, and now that I am here shall stay until I can locate Miss Price and we are united. I have a good position and shall not worry about the future, for I am confident that in time we shall meet.” Williams also offered a reward of $50-$100 for the location of Miss Price.¹ 

It is unclear how long Williams remained working at the White House and whether he reunited with Price. Beyond this newspaper article, further details about his life remain unknown at this time.