Andrew G. Williams Biography


	This biography appears on pages 473-474 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ANDREW G. WILLIAMS. 

	Andrew G. Williams, the president of the Potter County Land & 
Abstract Company, and a well known resident of Gettysburg, follows 
business methods which commend him to the confidence and support of the 
general public and therefore his success is assured. He has always been 
a resident of the middle west and the spirit of enterprise which has 
dominated the upbuilding of the Mississippi valley is manifest in his 
undertakings, He was born in Portage, Wisconsin, February 12, 1861, a 
son of Oliver P. and Mary A. (McFarlane) Williams, the former a native 
of the state of New York and the latter of Wisconsin. In early life the 
father engaged in the insurance and real-estate business, continuing 
along that line in Portage, Wisconsin, for many years. He died in 1885 
and is survived by his widow, who is now living in Poynette, Wisconsin. 

	Andrew G. Williams pursued his education at the place of his 
nativity, graduating from the high school there. When about eighteen 
years of age he was employed in government survey work in the Jim river 
valley of South Dakota and there spent the years 1881, 1882 and 1883. 
He had come to this state in 1880 and in 1884 he removed to Gettysburg, 
where he opened a real-estate office. He continued in business 
independently until 1892, when, in connection with two partners, he 
formed the Potter Land & Abstract Company, under which name he still 
continues business. After a time he purchased the interest of his 
partners, becoming sole owner in 1900, although the business is still 
conducted under the same firm style, with Mr. Williams as president of 
the company, Mrs. Williams as vice president, and a son, J. H. 
Williams, as secretary. Andrew G. Williams is quite an extensive land 
owner, having much property in the state. He located in Gettysburg in 
1884 on the exact spot where his office now stands. At that time Forest 
City was the county seat and he spent two months there before removing 
to Gettysburg. He believed that there would be a more advantageous 
field at this point, however, and time has proven the wisdom of his 
opinion. The company, of which he is the head, has the only set of 
abstract books in the county. The firm occupies pleasant and commodious 
offices, well furnished and equipped, the building having been erected 
in 1913. 

	In February, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Williams 
and Miss Carrie B. Ayres, who was born in Knightstown, Indiana, a 
daughter of H. H. and Minerva Ayres, who came to South Dakota in the 
year 1883, settling in Potter county. The father engaged in the 
furniture business in Gettysburg for a number of years and both he and 
his wife passed away there. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born 
four children: Anna Grace, who studied domestic science at the 
University of Wisconsin; Jay H., who is a graduate of the South Dakota 
University and is now associated in business with his father and also 
is active in the practice of law: Dorothy May, attending the University 
of Wisconsin; and Donald Ayres, in school. The son Jay is now married, 
his wife having previously been Bonnie S. Beebe. 

	Mr. Williams is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being 
connected with the blue lodge at Gettysburg, of which he was master for 
two terms. He likewise belongs to the chapter, to the consistory and to 
the Shrine, and he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen. III politics he is independent and 
has never aspired to office, although he served as the first mayor of 
Gettysburg and was chairman of the county board when the present county 
courthouse was erected, it being one of the best built and most 
thoroughly equipped public buildings of the kind in South Dakota. His 
home is one of the attractive and pleasantly situated residences in the 
town and in fact everything connected with Mr. Williams breathes the 
spirit of enterprise and progress. He has proven his faith in his town, 
his county and his state by his investments and the success which has 
come to him is the reward of the earnest effort which he has put forth 
to advance the public interests,