Rolla G. Williams Biography


	This biography appears on pages 657-658 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ROLLA G. WILLIAMS.

	Rolla G. Williams, just retiring from the office of register of 
deeds of Codington county, is embarking in the insurance business in 
addition to his connection with the Codington County Abstract Company, 
maintaining his office in Watertown, the county seat. His life record 
stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never 
without honor save in his own country, for Mr. Williams has won a 
creditable place in public regard in the city in which he was born. His 
natal day was August 29, 1883, his parents being George R. and Eva E. 
Williams. The mother was a daughter of George W. Carpenter, who came to 
Watertown in early pioneer times and was the first surveyor of 
Codington county. With the later development and improvement of this 
section of the state he was closely associated for many years and at 
the time of his death he was again filling the office of county 
surveyor as well as that of city engineer. He was a veteran of the 
Civil war, having loyally defended the Union in the darkest hour of our 
country's history. He passed away in 1912, at the age of seventy-six 
years.  

	It was in 1879 that George R. Williams came with his family from 
Berlin, Wisconsin, to South Dakota, settling near Watertown, where he 
homesteaded land. He afterward worked in town for R. B. Spicer, then 
register of deeds, for four years and on the expiration of that period 
was nominated on the republican ticket for the office to which he was 
afterward elected for three successive terms. On his retirement he 
entered the abstract business, which is now conducted under the name of 
the Codington County Abstract Company, with his son, Rolla G. Williams, 
as its secretary, J. Huntzicker as treasurer and manager, and Mrs. Eva 
Whiting, mother of the subject of this review, as the president. George 
R. Williams continued in the abstract business until his death, which 
occurred in 1907, his remains being then interred in the Watertown 
cemetery. He was one of the pioneers of that city, there being but a 
small village at the time of his arrival. As the years went on he bore 
his part in the work of general advancement and improvement and became 
recognized as a worthy and valued citizen. In 1909 Mrs. Williams became 
the wife of George H. Whiting of Yankton, where they now reside.  

	After attending the public schools Rolla G. Williams continued 
his education in the Watertown Business College and when his school 
days were over entered the employ of the !Northwestern Railroad 
Company, with which he remained for six months. He then spent four 
years with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Sioux Falls, 
South Dakota. He later was located for a time at Minot, North Dakota, 
in the employ of the Great Northern Railroad, and afterward at Midway, 
British Columbia, for the same company. Following his father's death he 
returned to Watertown in 1908 and entered the abstract office of his 
father, taking charge of the business, and is now secretary of the 
company. In 1910 he was elected register of deeds- a position which his 
father had previously filled for several terms- entered upon the duties 
of the office on the 1st of January, 1911, and was afterward reelected 
and started upon his second term in 1913. On March 1, 1915, he entered 
into partnership with J. C. Miller, retiring county auditor, for the 
conduct of an insurance office. He made a creditable record as a public 
official, is successful in business, and is accounted one of the 
progressive young men of Codington county.  

	Mr. Williams is fond of outdoor life and of manly sports and when 
business cares permit he enjoys spending a few hours or days, as the 
ease may be, in the open. In his political views he is a republican and 
is now recognized as one of the local leaders of the party. His 
religious faith is that of the Baptist church and fraternally he is 
connected with the Masons, the Elks and the Modern Woodmen. In the 
first named he has advanced steadily and is now a member of the El Riad 
Shrine at Sioux Falls.