Morris M. Williams Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1762-1763 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	MORRIS M. WILLIAMS, a well-known and representative citizen of 
Lebanon, Potter county, was born in Portage, Wisconsin, on the I2th of 
October, 1865, and after there completing the curriculum of the public 
schools he entered the Northwestern Business College, in Madison, the 
capital of the state, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 
1885. In 1885 he came to the territory of Dakota and was for one year 
employed as clerk in the Inter Ocean Hotel, at Mandan, in what is now 
North Dakota. He then, in 1886, came to Gettysburg, Potter county, South 
Dakota, and was there working for his brother, A. G., in the real-estate 
business for two years, at the expiration of which, in 1888, he came to 
Lebanon. where he engaged in the buying of grain for the Marfield 
Elevator Company, remaining with this concern twelve years, while during 
the latter few years of this period he was also engaged in the lumber 
and farming implement and machine business on his own responsibility, 
retiring from the grain business in 1902, while he still continued the 
other lines of individual enterprise, having built up a large and 
successful business. In 1898 he was also engaged in the general mer-
chandise business here, as the senior member of the firm of Williams & 
Schneider, having a commodious store and warehouse and carrying an 
extensive stock of goods. He has been consecutively concerned in the 
real-estate business, and his books at all times show desirable in-
vestments in good farming and grazing lands, as well as town property. 
He has recently completed in Lebanon a fine modern residence, the same 
being heated by the hot-water system and having other up-to-date 
facilities and being one of the most attractive homes in this section of 
the state. In politics he is a staunch Republican but has not been 
ambitious for public office, though he served for a number of years as 
treasurer of the school district. He is a Royal Arch Mason and also 
identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

	On the 8th of August, 1890, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to 
Miss Frankie Carr, and they have three children, Perry R., Benjamin H. 
and Marjorie.