William H. Williams, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of William H. Williams
WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS. Numbered among the substantial and popular citizens of Valparaiso is William H. Williams, a .prosperous druggist, who has rendered the city valuable service as a public official, and has the utmost faith in its future prosperity. A son of Abraham Williams, he was born in Cedar county, Iowa, February 18, 1863, of pioneer stock. An early settler of Iowa, Abraham Williams married Cynthia Jane Cowell, a native of Iowa, and began life for himself on a farm, improving an estate on which both he and his wife spent their remaining days. They became the parents of nine children, five of whom, in 1912, are living.
Growing to manhood on the parental farm, W. H. Williams obtained his early schooling in the district in which he was born. In January, 1895, he came to Indiana, and having entered the Northern Indiana Normal school, at Valparaiso, completed the course in pharmacy and was graduated from that department of the institution with the class of 1896. In 1898 Mr. Williams embarked in the drug business, for a year and a half being located on the Hill. In 1900 he bought out the store of Mr. A. C. Smith, and has since been successfully engaged in the drug business in the heart of the city, having a large and remunerative trade.
Mr. Williams has ever evinced a genuine interest in local affairs, and for four years served most ably and satisfactorily as mayor of the city, having been elected to the responsible position in 1906. A very active and prominent member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, in which he has taken the thirty-second degree, Mr. Williams is a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 137; the Chapter, No. 79; the Council, No. 86; the Commandery, No. 28; and belongs to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
On July 9, 1886, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Lilly A. Kidd, a daughter of Thomas and Filecia (Arnold) Kidd, of Toronto, Iowa.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 502-503
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook