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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY. 409
ship and for many years Mr. Williams devoted At the bar he is a strong advocate and wise
his energy to agricultural pursuits, but now resides
counselor. He prepares his cases with great
& Grote during his absence. has been passed in Pike county, so that his record
in Pittsfield. In the family were eight chil-
thoroughness and precision, and in the presenta-
dren.
tion of his cause is strong and logical, winning
William Elza Williams, the second in order of
the district schools until many notable victories through his thorough understanding
birth, attended eighteen
of the applica-
law and his correct years of age, when he entered Illinois College at
at issue. He
tion of its principles to the points
Jacksonville, there remaining for three years. In ranks among the foremost advocates at the Pike
the midst of his literary course he determined upon
the practice of law as a life work, and entered
county bar, famous for its great lawyers.
August, 1879, Mr. Williams was united in
upon preparation for the profession as a student marriage to Miss Margaret Gallaher, and they
in the office of Irwin & Johnson, one of the strong have a daughter, Mabel E., now the wife of Irving
W. Wheeler, of Lockport, New York. Mrs.
law firms of Pittsfield. He pursued his reading
until admitted to the bar in 1880 before the appellate
Williams was born in New York city and is a
court of the first district in Chicago. He daughter of the well remembered James Gallaher,
thus entered upon his professional career well of Quincy, who- -was. city librarian of that city
equipped for the work.
and for ./nanj years was editor of the Quincy
Mr. Williams located for practice in Pittsfield, Whig and the 6id Flag: ofPittsfield. Both Mr.
and in the course of a few years his success was
so marked that he became favorably known as a
leading representative of the legal profession in
and Mrs. Williams hold membership in the Congregational
highly esteemed citizens
with a circle of friends that indicates their
the county and in April, 1887, was elected to the personal popularity and the sociability of their
which became vacant natures. In politics he has always been a consistent
office of state's attorney,
through the resignation of H. C. Johnston. He
supporter of democratic principles and five
was a fearless and forceful prosecutor, and his
capability in the discharge of his duties won for
times has been endorsed by his county for congress,
receiving the support of the citizens of Pike
him re-election in 1888 for the full term of four county for that office since 1894. In 1898 he was
years, and he thus served until 1892. His brother, elected and served for one term, or until 1901,
A. Clay Williams, was admitted to the bar in and while a member of the house he served on
1893, and they formed a partnership under the the important committees of territories and revision
firm style of Williams & Williams, which relation
of laws. He was one of the most promi-
was maintained until 1896, when the brother
was elected state's attorney, and served two terms,
or until 1904, after which the firm of Williams
nent members of the fifty-sixth congress, and that
he fully satisfied his constituents, particularly in
his home county, is evidenced by the repeated endorsement
& Williams was again organized and so continues
of the voters. He was the sitting mem-
to the present time. In 1898 he formed a partnership
ber and also a candidate for renomination before
with W. L. Coley, as Williams & Coley, the famous deadlock convention of 1900 at Jackber
which firm continued during the time of Mr. Williams'
sonville, when two thousand four hundred fifty-
service in congress. In 1902 Mr. Coley three ballots were taken in selecting a congressonville,
removed to East St. Louis and Mr. Williams entered
sional candidate. Mr. Williams was the leading
into partnership with Paul
-
F. Grote under
the firm name of Williams & Grote, with whom
candidate before the convention, and his defeat
was brought about by a combination of opposing
he was associated until 1905. In 1904 Mr. Williams
candidates, who determined by .lot the successful
was employed as trial lawyer by the Chi-
cago City Railway Company, and remained with
that company for one year, when he resigned his
candidate.
Socially Mr. Williams is a member of the Masonic
lodge and chapter, the Independent Order
position and resumed the practice at Pittsfield, of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias fraternity
which had been conducted by the firm of Williams and the Modern Woodmen camp. His entire life