BIOGRAPHY: William J. WILLIAMS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 202-3
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WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS, a coal operator of Johnstown, is a son of William and 
Catherine (Pool) Williams, and was born September 1, 11852, at Camborne, 
Cornwall, England.
     William Williams' father was a native of Camborne, and was reared there, 
and followed mining. In 1880 he came to the United States, locating at 
Lloydsville, this county, but later returned to his native land, where he died 
in 1887. He was married in 1832, in Crown Parish, to Catherine Pool, a daughter 
of William Pool. The grandfather of William Williams, on the paternal side of 
the family, was Robert Williams, a miner, although most of the family were 
farmers and millers, and also the proprietors of a china clay works in that 
country. To the marriage of William Williams and Catherine Pool were born but 
two children, of which the subject of this sketch is the elder. His brother's 
name is Walter, who was born in 1863, and is in the employ of his brother as a 
mine boss.
     William J. Williams has a good practical education, obtained not through 
the medium of schools or text-books, but by travel and general reading. A youth 
of spirit, he went to work at the age of thirteen, cleaning tin as it came from 
the mines. Then for about eight or nine years, with his father, was engaged in 
the copper and tin mining business of his country, five of which they were 
engaged in trippeting or prospecting on their own personal account, and were 
very successful. In December, 1876, he set sail from Plymouth, England for South 
Africa, being under the employ of his government, which was building railroads 
in that section of the “Dark Continent.” He had opened the first tunnel (No. 2), 
having had a contract. This trip was an interesting one, and by Mr. Williams was 
made a great source of education; and he had an opportunity to observe many 
interesting things on the Madeira Islands, at St. Helena, St. John's and Cape 
Town, whence they went to Beuda West, three days and nights, to the scene of 
their labors at No. 2 tunnel on the Beuda West railroad. He remained there eight 
months, when he returned to England, and shortly afterwards came to the United 
States, making the trip across the Atlantic in seven days, seven hours and 
twenty minutes, the fastest time on record up to that date. After a brief period 
spent in visiting friends, he took a position with an iron ore company of 
Orbisonia, Huntingdon county, this State, and remained there five months; 
thence, after a stay of four years at Lloydsville, this county, he came in 1880 
to Johnstown. He there entered the iron ore mines of the Cambria Iron company, 
at Minersville, and later was engaged at various other mines of the same 
company. During this period he was industriously engaged in study, preparing 
himself to pass the required examination for a mine foremanship. He was 
successful, and passed a very credible examination, and took a foremanship with 
the firm of Miller & Co., of Portage, this county. He remained there some time; 
then, after a short service rendered them, supervising their pumps at 
Burwellsdale, he was offered a superintendency by the Cambria Coal and Coke 
company, at Amsbry, this county, but, on account of a physical disability, was 
compelled to give up the position. In April, 1889, he came to Johnstown, and 
like many others, lost all his worldly possessions in the Catastrophe of May 31, 
1889. After the wreck of the terrible calamity had been cleared away, and Mr. 
Williams began to look about him for a medium through which to secure a 
livelihood, mining seemed to be the best adapted to his training and 
capabilities. He purchased the coal mine of Daniel Thomas, a coal operator of 
Johnstown, and later that of Hiram Swank, and now operates both mines, giving 
employment to twenty hands.
     Religiously Mr. Williams is a presbyterian, and takes an active part in all 
church and religious work. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of 
the Miners' Christian association, the first organization of its kind in the 
country. The objects of this are to advance the spiritual and intellectual 
interests of the miners by providing wholesome reading for them, and by 
conducting orthodox exercises specially adapted to their needs. The first 
officers of this association were: William J. Williams, president; D. J. Jones, 
treasurer; M. L. Weaver, Secretary; and Mr. John Fulton, Geo. Robinson, Dr. 
Overdorff and Wm. Morris, directors. It has been in existence since October 19, 
1894, is largely patronized, and has done and is doing a truly ennobling work.
     On January 15, 1874, Mr. Williams and Mary Ann Ritallick, daughter of 
Richard Ritallick, of Lannar, Cornwall, were united in marriage at Camborne, in 
the Wesleyan chapel. 
     Richard Ritallick was a native of Lannar, but after his marriage moved to 
Camborne, where he died. He married Mary Ann Carpenter, and to this union was 
born fourteen children, but three of whom are yet living: Elizabeth, wife of 
Thomas Little, of Cornwall; John R., of Johnstown; and the wife of the subject 
of this record. Mrs. Williams has always traveled with her husband, and takes an 
active interest in all his works, especially in the work of the Miners' 
Christian association, being accustomed to such work from childhood. Prior to 
her marriage with Mr. Williams she spent most of her life traveling with a good, 
Christian lady, Miss Ellen Budge.