William H. Williams Biography


	This biography appears on page 7 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 H. WILLIAMS.  

	William H. Williams, president of the Woonsocket State Bank at 
Woonsocket, South Dakota, was born at Hazel Green, Wisconsin, February 
1, 1859. His father, J. F. Williams, a native of England, came to the 
United States about 1844 and devoted his life to farming but is now 
deceased. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Susan Busanko, was 
also of English birth and has passed away.  

	William H. Williams was the sixth in order of birth in a family 
of eleven children. He acquired his education in the schools of his 
home town. When his school days were over he began farming with his 
father, being thus engaged until about twenty-six years of age. He 
arrived in Dakota territory in 1884, settling in Sanborn county, where 
for six years he followed the occupation of farming. In 1890 he was 
elected county treasurer and so ably filled the position during his 
first term that he was reelected. He was afterward connected with 
various lines of business until 1898, when he founded the Merchants 
Bank, of which he became cashier, acting in that capacity until 1912, 
when he was elected to the presidency. In 1915 the Merchants Bank and 
the Woonsocket State Bank were consolidated under the name of the 
Woonsocket State Bank and Mr. Williams was chosen president of the new 
organization. He is thoroughly acquainted with the different phases of 
the banking business and his knowledge thereof, combined with habits of 
unfaltering industry and close application, are important features in 
his growing success. In addition to his banking interests he has 
considerable farm land, being now the owner of one of Sanborn county,s 
finest and most modernly equipped and improved stock farms near 
Woonsocket.  

	On the 18th of February, 1885, Mr. Williams was united in 
marriage to Miss Sallie Price, a daughter of John Price, of Galena, 
Illinois. They have two children, namely: Elsie. the wife of Harry W. 
Harvey, who is engaged in the insurance business in Woonsocket; and 
Florence.  

	In his political views Mr. Williams is an earnest republican, and 
aside from filling the office of county treasurer for two terms he has 
served as mayor of Woonsocket for four years, giving to the city a 
businesslike and public-spirited administration. He is interested in 
the good roads movement and in all those plans and projects which have 
for their object the welfare and benefit of the community. His life has 
been purposeful and resultant and his activities have been of such a 
character that they have featured largely in the advancement of the 
community as well as constituting the source of his individual success.