Bio of WILLIAMS, Willis Stoughton (b.1862), Hennepin Co., MN
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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 222-225
WILLIS STOUGHTON WILLIAMS
Willis Stoughton Williams, a member of an honored pioneer family of Minneapolis,
is treasurer and manager of the Chamber of Commerce Clearing Association and has
many friends in this city, which has been his home from the age of eight years.
He was born at Stoughton, Wisconsin, January 8, 1862, a son of Nelson and
Delette H. (Stoughton) Williams, the former a native of North Lawrence, New
York, and the latter of Janesville, Wisconsin. The maternal grandfather, Luke
Stoughton, was one of the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, removing to that state
in 1837, and the town of Stoughton was named in his honor. He erected the first
flour mill in that section of the country and was also a successful merchant.
Nelson Williams came to Minneapolis in 1870 and entered the wholesale drug
business as a member of the firm of Lyman & Williams, their establishment being
located at Bridge Square. Mr. Williams afterward sold his interest to Lyman
Brothers and the business is now conducted under the style of the Minneapolis
Drug Company. He next became superintendent of the Minneapolis Threshing Machine
Company's plant and subsequently turned his attention to the real estate
business. He was the first superintendent of the poor of Minneapolis and while
residing at Stoughton, Wisconsin, he served as a member of the state senate. He
was one of the leading business men and foremost citizens of Minneapolis and his
death occurred in 1900. Mrs. Williams is still living.
After finishing his public school training, which was acquired in this city,
Willis S. Williams became a student at Yale University, from which he was
graduated in 1886, on the completion of a scientific course. In the fall of that
year he became an employe in the Citizens Bank of Minneapolis, with which he was
identified for about three years, and he then engaged in the mortgage, loan and
commercial paper business for two years, being associated with Frank E. Sprague.
In 1891 Mr. Williams aided in organizing the Clearing Association of the
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, which was the first organization of the kind
formed in the United States, other grain centers of the country soon following
their example, owing to the success of the system, which has rapidly developed.
Mr. Williams was first made manager of the association and he is now discharging
the duties of treasurer as well. He has worked untiringly to promote the
organization and its present success is mainly attributable to his well
formulated plans and intelligently directed efforts.
On the 14th of May, 1920, Mr. Williams was married to Mrs. Myrtle J. Currie of
Port Arthur, Canada, and they reside in an attractive home at No. 2123 Pleasant
avenue. During the World war Mr. Williams was active in Red Cross work and in
civic affairs he has always taken a helpful interest, serving as councilman of
Minnetonka Beach for five years, for two years as treasurer and for a similar
period he filled the office of mayor, discharging his duties with commendable
efficiency and conscientiousness. He is a member of the Chi Phi college
fraternity, the University Club of St. Paul, and the Minikahda, Minneapolis,
Lafayette, Automobile, and Woodhill Country clubs of this city, the White Bear
Yacht Club of St. Paul, and the Old Colony Club. In 1918 he was elected
president of the Northwestern Yale Alumni Association. He was the first
secretary and treasurer of the Lafayette Club and on resigning was elected and
still remains one of the board of governors. His course has at all times marked
him as a citizen of worth. His life has been an upright, honorable and useful
one and high regard is entertained for his business ability, his executive force
and his public-spirited devotion to the general welfare.