William G. Williams Biography


	This biography appears on page 601 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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				WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS. 

	William G. Williams is president of the State Bank of Winfred, 
with which he has been continuously connected since 1905. He was born 
in Iowa on the 29th of September, 1871, a son of William H. and Jane 
Williams, who in the year 1879 brought their family to Dakota 
territory. The work of progress and development was in its initial 
stages and William H. Williams homesteaded on section 32, Winfred 
township, Lake county, securing the northwest quarter. He also entered 
a tree claim on the northwest quarter of section 8, Winfred township, 
and a preemption on the southwest quarter of section 29. For a number 
of years thereafter he continuously engaged in general farming and he 
met all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. The 
land was entirely wild and unimproved when it came into his possession 
and it required much arduous labor to convert the raw prairie into 
productive fields. Moreover, one had to drive long distances to market 
and there were many things which barred progress, but resolute will and 
determination overcame these disadvantages and the father at length 
reached a place among the men of affluence in the county. He is now 
living retired in Winfred, but his wife has passed away. 

	After acquiring a public-school education William G. Williams 
bent his energies toward assisting his father upon the home farm and 
later he embarked in agricultural pursuits on his own account, devoting 
two years to that work. He was then called by popular suffrage to 
public office, being elected in 1901 to the position of county measurer 
of Lake county for a term of four years. He then purchased the 
controlling interest in the State Bank of Winfred, with which he has 
since been connected. Under his presidency the business of the bank has 
continuously increased and the institution is today regarded as one of 
the safe financial concerns of the county. Mr. Williams also has other 
business interests of importance. He is engaged in dealing in hogs and 
he is the owner of a homestead of a half section in North Dakota. 

	On the 27th of January, 1899, Mr. Williams was united in marriage 
to Miss Winfred Griffith, a daughter of Hugh Griffith. Their children 
are as follows: Latimer B., Lavida, Clayton, Ruth and Wendell. The 
family adhere to the faith of the Congregational church and take an 
active interest in its work and also contribute generously to its 
maintenance. 

	Mr. Williams votes with the republican party and keeps well 
informed on the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor 
desire political preferment. He is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman and has 
many friends in those organizations. For thirty-five years he has made 
his home in Lake county, where he is widely known and where his circle 
of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.