Multnomah-Polk County OR Archives Biographies.....Willilams, Ralph E. September 15, 1869 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 6, 2009, 11:41 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     RALPH E. WILLIAMS.  One of the prominent and influential citizens of the 
Columbia River valley is Ralph E. Williams, whose activities as banker, farmer 
and politician have gained for him a place of distinction among his fellowmen. 
He was born in Polk county, Oregon, on the 15th of September, 1869, and is a 
son of James J. and Alice (Eckersley) Williams. His paternal grandfather was 
James John Williams, who moved from Tennessee to Missouri, where he lived 
until 1845, when he brought his family across the plains to Oregon, settling 
in Polk county, where he took up a donation land claim, on which he resided 
until his death. James J. Williams was born in Tennessee in 1832 and 
accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri and their migration to 
Oregon. In this state he devoted the major part of his attention to 
agricultural pursuits, though he also did considerable work as a carpenter and 
blacksmith. In 1872 he was elected sheriff of Polk county and served two 
terms. He married Miss Alice Eckersley, who was born in England and in the 
early '50s came to Oregon with her brother, Otho Eckersley.

     Ralph E. Williams attended the public schools and graduated from La 
Creole Academy, at Dallas. His first business experience was with the 
mercantile firm of Fenton & Trewitt, at Dallas, and in 1890 he entered the 
Dallas City Bank as a clerk, while later he was advanced to the position of 
cashier and in 1900 became president, which position he still holds. In 1905 
he organized the Dallas National Bank, of which he has been president 
continuously since. He also organized the Bank of Fall City, Oregon. He is 
extensively interested, in farm lands, owning the old home farm in Polk county 
and four other farms, his holdings amounting to two hundred acres in Clackamas 
county, four hundred and fifty acres in Marion county, and two farms, of one 
hundred and fifty acres and one hundred acres, in Polk county. He raises grain 
and livestock, also considerable fruit and hops on all of the farms. He 
maintains his ranches at a high standard of improvement and gives much of his 
personal attention to their operation, dividing his time between his farms and 
the banks. He has resided in Portland since 1911.

     In 1911 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Grace Noyes, who was 
born in Wisconsin, but was a resident of Portland at the time of her marriage. 
To them have been born two children, Ralph E., Jr., and Harriet. Mr. Williams 
is a member of Jennings Lodge, No. 9, A. F. & A. M.; Ainsworth Chapter, R. A. 
M.; Portland Consistory, A. A. S. R.; Al Kader Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S.; and 
is a life member of Portland Lodge, No. 336, B. P. 0. E. He is a veteran 
member of the Shrine, being one of the thirty-seven oldest members of the 
order at Portland. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, the Auld Lang Syne 
Society, the Waverley Club, the Arlington Club and the Multnomah Athletic 
Club. He has been a lifelong republican in his political views and has been 
active and prominent in the councils of his party. He was a delegate to the 
republican national convention at Chicago in 1908, at which time he was made a 
member of the national committee, to which he has been repeatedly reelected, 
his present term expiring in June, 1932, being now the oldest member of the 
committee in point of years of service. He served as vice-chairman of the 
committee in 1923, and was reelected first vice-chairman in June, 1928, at 
Kansas City. He has been a member of the national executive committee 
continuously since 1912, during which period he has taken an active part in 
perfecting arrangements for the various national conventions. A man of mature 
judgment in practical affairs, doing well whatever he undertakes and 
absolutely dependable under all circumstances, he commands the confidence and 
respect of all who know him and has honored his native state by his life and 
labors.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 636-637

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