Bio of WILLIAMS, Frank L. (b.1855), Hennepin Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden Submitted: June 2003 ========================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ======================================================== submitted by Laura Pruden, email Raisndustbunys@aol.com ======================================================== EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical Vol II, pg 214-217 FRANK L. WILLIAMS Frank L. Williams, a banker of progressive spirit, who utilized the opportunities that his business afforded for the upbuilding of the community, long enjoyed the high regard of his fellow townsmen in Minneapolis, where he resided for fifteen years. He had an extensive circle of warm friends, while all who knew him entertained for him the highest regard. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Erie, October 8, 1855, and traced his ancestry back to Ellis Williams, who was born in Wales in 1767 ,and his wife, Hannah Donaldson. Their son, the Rev. Amos Williams, was born on this side the Atlantic in 1790, and was united in marriage to Mary Sterling. They were in turn the parents of Amos Sterling Williams, who was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and who wedded Hannah Stewart, these two becoming the parents of Frank L. Williams. In the public schools of his native city Frank L. Williams pursued his education until he entered Williams College, in which he remained for a year. He began his business career at Erie also in 1876, becoming a bookkeeper with the firm of Churchill & Williams, wholesale grain dealers, operating at Erie, Pennsylvania, and also at Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio. In 1885 he extended the scope of his business to include wheat raising in the Red River valley of North Dakota, where the little town of Erie now stands. Frequent trips were made to the west but Mr. Williams retained his residence at Erie, Pennsylvania, for a number of years thereafter. In 1895 he became interested in several banks in North -Dakota and in 1897 he was one of the four founders of a fraternal insurance organization incorporated at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and known as the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. It now flourishes in many states as The Yeoman. Mr. Williams sold his holdings in The Yeoman when he decided to center his interests in Minneapolis in 1901 and in that year he took up his residence in this city, maintaining a home at No. 2312 Pillsbury avenue, until his death in 1916. In 1902 he became one of the founders of the Minnesota National Bank, of which he was vice president and active manager and soon became a dominant figure in banking circles. The Minnesota National grew rapidly and in a few years removed from its quarters in the Globe building into spacious banking rooms on the first floor of the Lumber Exchange building. Later on it was merged with the Scandinavian American Bank to become the Midland National Bank. Having brought about this merger Mr. Williams practically retired from active business cares, except that he continued his interest in the development of northeast Minneapolis, a prosperous section known as the New Boston addition to the city, the shops of the Soo Railroad being located there. As this community was without banking facilities, in 1906 Mr. Williams established a private bank at Central avenue and Twenty-fifth street but in 1907 converted it into a state bank to be known as the Central" State Bank, of which he was president until his death. At that time the bank was regarded as one of the most stable financial institutions in the city. There he inaugurated several new methods of banking and was the first in the city to keep open Saturday nights for the convenience of the public. Previous to this time the saloons had received a large part of the people's money on Saturday nights and the opening of the bank constituted a distinct contribution to thrift and progress in the community. The Central State Bank was Mr. Williams' pet project and its unique success pleased him more than did any other of his business ventures. In Algona, Iowa, in 1895, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Mary Edith Clarke, a daughter of Andrew D. and Mary J. (Phelps) Clarke. She survives him with one son, Sterling C. Williams. The husband and father passed away July 8, 1916. He was a communicant of the Westminster Presbyterian church and a member of the Minneapolis Athletic Club, the Lafayette Club, the Bankers Club and the Interlachen Club. He possessed a genial nature, was a good mixer and his part in the development of the northeast section of Minneapolis made his name known throughout the city because of his masterly ability as a community builder and his power to make others believe in the future of New Boston. His character was rich in its attributes of dignity, honor, gentleness and worth.