Peter Williams (1834-1917) was one of the earliest African Americans to settle in Lake Forest, coming north from enslavement in Alabama. He described his life experiences in an 1896 program at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, an evening entirely devoted to the Black community. The service included spirituals, speeches, hymns, and testimonies. Peter shared his story of being enslaved in Alabama and what it had been like watching other enslaved people sold time and time again – including one enslaved person who was traded for a horse. 

 

Peter’s wife Anna (c.1840-1902) was born enslaved in Kentucky. Together, they ran a successful restaurant in town. “Mrs. Williams Restaurant and Bakery” was a staple institution for the community, serving treats and meals made to order. Ice cream, pies, and cakes seem to be a specialty as they are highlighted in every advertisement. 

In 1910, Lake Forest College’s student newspaper, The Stentor, published a story with memories of Peter and Anna Williams’ restaurant. The story uses the racist language typical of much early 20th century literature – dialect and depictions of people of color – but the illustration is full of praise for the business. The author, “LFC Class of 1893,” recounts their late-night trips to visit Peter and Anna Williams in hopes for some after-hours snacks. A bit of back and forth would ensue as the students pleaded to an irritated – but amused – Anna. After gathering around the “queen of the kitchen,” the students’ requests were fully satisfied. The author described the inn as “the mecca of the hungry and never satisfied student, from breakfast time to midnight” - a gathering place off campus to celebrate, commiserate, relax, and eat their fill. This story emphasizes the significance of the Williams’ restaurant to the community. Their reputation for hospitality and high-quality food is evident in their newspaper advertisements as well. 

Tragedy struck the family when their young daughter, Nellie, died in May of 1896. (According to the census, they had another daughter, Mary, in 1868.) Anna Williams died in 1902. After her death, Thomas Porter took over the restaurant. (If you look closely at the top of the photo above of Thomas Porter standing in front of his business, you can see the faded sign for Mrs. A. Williams Restaurant.) 

 

Peter shortly thereafter married Fanny Bird in 1904. Both having lost a spouse, Peter and Fanny decided they “might as well hitch up” to combat their loneliness. 

Peter’s obituary in 1917 described him as “the friend of every man, woman or child who knew him, and his home and purse were always open to any needing assistance.” Anna’s in 1902 characterizes her as “a kind-hearted, motherly women, generous to a fault.” They are buried in the Lake Forest Cemetery.