Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1880 — Biograpliv of Gov. Williams. [ARTICLE]

Biograpliv of Gov. Williams.

The late Governor, James Douglas Williams, says the Indianapolis Journal, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1808, making his age at the time of death nearly 73 years. His parents were of Scotch-Irish and Welsli-English blood, and from them he inherited the marked physical strength and rugged honesty which so distinguished him throughout his long public career. His ancestors were farmers, and at an early age his father, George Williams, emigrated to tliis State and located in Knox county, and there the homestead of "the father and son has remained to the present day. The facilities for education were extremely limited in his youth and early manhood, and James grew up an honest yeoman, plain in speech and dress, hard-fisted and hard-headed, perhaps, but of incorruptible honesty and fixed purpose. In 1828 his father died, leaving a large family, and upon James devolved their support and guardianship. In 1831 he married Miss Honey Huffman, the daughter of one of his neighbors, and the young couple settled upon a quarter section of land embraced in his present homestead, near what is known as Wheatland, Their married life extended oven many years; steady labor andeconomical habits added to their wealt h and prosperity, and, never, until she died, ouly a few months since, after a protracted illness, was there any break in the perfect accord of their domestic life. Her death was indirectly the result of injuries received by a fall, and after her demise a great change was noticed by the Governor’s intimate associates, although he never repined or uttered a word of complaint. With the exception of one unfilled term in Congress, Gov. Williams’ long public career was exclusively identified with State affurs. Ilis first office was Justice of the Peace, to which he was elected in 1837. In 1843 he represented his county in the State Legislature, and altogether he served nine terms in the House and eleven in the Senate. For many years he was also identified with the State Board of Agriculture, beginning his connection tlr.rowith in 1855, and continuing sixteen years, four years of which time he served as President. In 1874 he succeeded Hon. William E. Niblack as member of Congress from the Second Congressional district; but before the conclusion of his term he was elected Governor' of Indiana. In this gubernatorial race Gen. Ben Harrison was his competitor, and Ihe canvass ended by a plurality in favor of Williams of over 5,000 votes. In February, 1877, lie was inaugurated. An incident in his political, career, heretofore overlooked, is the fact that in 1872 he was the caucus nominee of his party to .succeed Gov. Merton in the United States Senate. His career as Governor is familiar to the people of this great State. The deceased was a man of marked personal appearance, standing . six feet four inches in height, and weighing 174 pounds. The Governor’s estate is roomily estimated at SIOO,OOO, of which $75,000 is invested in fanning lands, and the‘'remainder in cash' or negotiable paper. Altogether, 2,200 acres are included in his several farms.