William Ewart Shilliam
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 199

William Ewart Shilliam, who at intervals for about 
thirty years has been in public office in Cochise 
County, was elected justice of the peace in Benson 
in February 1909.  His previous faithful service in 
other positions gave promise of what he would do when 
elected to this, and his fellow citizens have found him 
a capable, reliable and conscientious public servant.  
He was born in London England in 1854 and is a son of 
Richard and Jane (Oldham) Shilliam, also natives of that 
city.  The father was engaged in the stock business in 
London, following that occupation until his death.  The 
mother has also passed away.

William Ewart Shilliam, named in honor of Gladstone, of 
whom his father was a great admirer, remained in London 
until he was twelve years of age and then accompanied his 
uncle on a journey to America.  They settled in Wisconsin 
and engaged there in the stock business, Mr. Shilliam 
dividing his time between the pursuit of an education and 
his business affairs.  He remained with his uncle until 
he was seventeen years of age and then began his 
independent career. Going to Iowa he joined a surveying 
party, with which he was connected for eighteen months.  
Later he went to Bismarck North Dakota where he engaged 
as a packer under General Custer, with whom he remained 
for one year, the connection being interrupted by the 
death of his father.  This event necessitated his going 
to England to settle the estate and he remained there 
for six months, returning at the end of that time to 
America and settling in Denver Colorado.  There he 
purchased an outfit of horses and mules and engaged 
in the freighting business, operating a line between 
Cheyenne and the Black Hills of South Dakota for a 
year and a half.  He spent the next twelve months in 
the Black Hills driving a stage but in 1878 came to 
Yuma, Arizona entering the employ of the San Antonio 
Gold and Silver Mining Company.  After a year and a 
half he settled in Tombstone and there engaged in 
business, grubstaking miners.  In this line of work 
he met with indifferent success and finally severed 
his connection with it and turned his attention to 
politics.  He was appointed deputy sheriff of Pima 
County by R.H. Paul and served at intervals in that 
position until he came to Benson.  at that time he 
was interested also in buying and selling cattle and 
after he settled in Benson in 1886 continued his 
identification with that line of work.

Mr. Shilliam was soon, however, carried forward into 
important relations with political life, being elected 
constable in 1888.  When his term of office expired he 
was appointed deputy U.S. Marshal, serving for four 
years, and then deputy sheriff and afterward constable.  
In February 1909 he was elected justice of the peace and 
has since filled that position.  The affairs of the 
office are carefully managed, everything being done 
according to the most progressive methods.  Mr. Shilliam 
discharges his duties in a prompt and able manner, 
fully appreciating the responsibilities which rest 
upon him in this connection.  He also gives a great 
deal of time to the supervision of his real estate 
interests, which include tracts of business and 
residence property in Benson and he is an active 
member of the Board of Trade.

In Tombstone in 1893 Mr. Shilliam married Miss Minnie J. 
Bauer, a native of Chicago and a daughter of A. and Marie 
Bauer, both of whom were born in Germany.  The parents were 
early settlers of Tombstone but now reside in Lowell, where 
the father lives retired.  In their family were seven 
children: Minnie j., now Mrs. Shilliam; Emma, the wife 
of George Mier of Bisbee, Frank who home is in Lowell,; 
Molly, who married John Treu of Bisbee; Eddie a resident 
of Los Angeles; Gus of Lowell Arizona and  Marguerite, 
now deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Shilliam have three children: Ethel who 
received a common school and commerical education; 
Marguerite who is a graduate of the Bisbee high school 
and William McKinley who is a student in the Lowell 
public schools.


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