William Williamson, Jr. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1149-1150 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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				HON. WILLIAM WILLlAMSON, JR.  

	Hon. William Williamson, Jr., judge of the eleventh judicial 
district of South Dakota and one of the leading members of the state 
bar, was born upon a farm in Mahaska county, Iowa, October 7, 1875. His 
father, William Williamson, was a native of Norway, born in 1843, and 
when a young man he became a resident of Mahaska county, Iowa, whence 
in 1882 he removed to Aurora county, Dakota territory, securing a 
homestead claim which he converted into a valuable farm. In time he 
became one of the prosperous landowners of the county and was also one 
of its most prominent citizens. He retired from active business in 1913 
and is now a resident of Mitchell, South Dakota. In Norway, in 1871, he 
married Miss Mary Erland and the same year they came to America to 
establish their home. Their family numbered seven children, of whom the 
Judge is the third. The mother died in 1883 and by a second marriage 
the father had five children.  

	In the public schools of Aurora county William Williamson 
mastered the elementary branches of learning and continued his course 
in the Wayne Normal school at Wayne, Nebraska, later entering the 
University of South Dakota, from which he was graduated with the class 
of 1903, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued as a student 
in that institution, however, and completed the law course in 1905, at 
which time the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him. His education 
was secured entirely through his own efforts, for he paid his way 
through college by his labor, thus showing the elemental strength of 
his character. He was editor in chief of the Coyote, the first college 
annual of the State University of South Dakota; also editor-in-chief of 
the Volante, the college weekly, during his junior year, and he was a 
member of the university debating team. He also won the Stirling prize 
for the best thesis upon graduation from the law school. While still in 
college he had located for practice at Oacoma, Lyman county, and he had 
the distinction of being nominated for the office of state's attorney 
of the county before his graduation. He was duly elected and served in 
that position from 1904 until 1908 continuously, his administration 
being characterized by a most vigorous prosecution of wrongdoers, and 
through his efforts is largely due the credit of breaking up cattle 
rustling and other forms of outlawry of which the early settlers of 
Lyman county were victims. He was elected for the third time as state's 
attorney in the fall of 1910. The experiences of pioneer days proved a 
fair test of his honesty, courage and manhood as well as of his legal 
ability. So clean was his record as state's attorney that in March, 
1911, Governor Vessey appointed him judge of the eleventh district, to 
which office he was again chosen by election in 1914. His work is 
characterized by an intelligent and impartial fairness and he has won 
the confidence and esteem of both the bar and the public, his course 
being a credit to the legal profession and to the state's judicial 
machinery. Judge Williamson is largely interested in Lyman county 
enterprises and is also an extensive landowner and one of the partners 
in the Lyman County Abstract and Loan Company.  

	On the 5th of October, 1910, Judge Williamson was married to Miss 
Clara Victoria Dice, a daughter of Caspar Dice, of Lincoln, Nebraska. 
They hold membership in the Congregational church and the Judge 
affiliates with the Odd Fellows and with the Masons. In politics he has 
always been a republican since the attainment of his majority brought 
to him the right of franchise. He is active in both local and state 
politics and was a delegate to the republican national convention of 
1912. He enjoys various phases of outdoor life, including hunting, 
fishing and camping, but outside of his professional duties his time is 
chiefly given to the study and practice of horticulture and 
floriculture and upon his grounds are seen the finest kinds of fruit 
and vegetables, together with a most beautiful and wonderful collection 
of flowers, making his gardens famous throughout the state. He has 
become recognized as an authority upon scientific propagation, his 
example being one well worthy of being: followed by those who make such 
work a life business.