William S. Williams

William Sherley "Old Bill" Williams (January 3, 1787 – March 14, 1849) was a noted mountain man and frontiersman, known as Lone Elk to the Native Americans. Fluent in several languages, Williams served as an interpreter for the government and led several expeditions to the West. He assimilated into the Osage Nation where he married the daughter of a chief, and never returned to European-American life. Biography Early life and education Williams was born on January 3, 1787, on Horse Creek, a branch of the Pacolet River, under Skyuka Mountain in Polk County, North Carolina., the fourth son and the fourth child of nine born to Joseph and Sarah (Musick) Williams. He liked to explore and learned to trap animals for their furs, and found he had a gift for languages. In 1795, the family moved to settle near St. Louis, Missouri. Career Williams was a master fur trapper and trail guide, becoming fluent in several Native American languages among the tribes he knew the best. He served as a sergeant and scout with the United States Rangers during the War of 1812. As he encountered local tribes, Williams would learn their languages and customs. His ability to communicate in the different languages made him valuable to the government and the military for tribal negotiations.