Elihu S. Williams
Encyclopedia
Elihu Stephen Williams was a farmer
, lawyer
, soldier
, and politician
who became a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Ohio
.
, the son of Henry Williams and Elizabeth Pettigrew, both of Virginia
. Elihu Williams worked on his father's farm until 16 years of age, receiving education in the winter at public schools. Not satisfied, he demanded of his father to be sent regularly to school. His father told him if he wanted a better education than he was getting at home, to get it himself. With $1.50 in his pocket, Elihu Williams started out in life for himself.
He worked among the farmers to earn money to pay his board for a few months, then attended Antioch College
to pass examination for a teacher's certificate. He taught school the following winter in Brandt, Ohio
. In 1858, he commenced reading law
in the office of F. P. Cuppy, Esq., of Dayton, Ohio
, continuing to teach in winters until February 1861, when he was admitted to practice of law by the Supreme Court of Ohio
.
In October 1861, he enlisted as a private
in the 71st Ohio Infantry
serving for the duration of the Civil War
. He was commissioned first lieutenant
February 14, 1862. He was in the Battle of Shiloh
. He was promoted to captain February 10, 1863. In fall of 1863, he was detailed to the command of the military post at Carthage, Tennessee
and remained there until the close of the war.
After the war, Capt. Williams remained in Smith County, Tennessee, and engaged in the practice of law. He took an active part in the first convention for the Reconstruction of Tennessee
at Nashville
. In April 1865, he was commissioned District Attorney
for the Sixth Judicial District of Tennessee until the summer of 1867. He resigned to accept the nomination as Republican
candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives
, to represent the district of Sumner
, Smith and Macon Counties, serving for two years in the Radical Legislature of Tennessee until 1869. He returned to agricultural pursuits at his farm.
On May 31, 1866 Elihu Williams married Alice Gordon, daughter of Dr. Wiley B Gordon and Virginia Russwum. They had 2 children; a third child enumerated as son in 1880 may have been adopted.
In 1875, he moved his family to Troy, Ohio
, where he established partnership with his brother Henry H. Williams in the practice of law. He also became editor
of the newspaper, the Buckeye. In 1886 he was elected as a Republican
to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses from Ohio’s third district.
At the end of his congressional terms, he resumed the practice of law at Troy where he died. He is interred in Riverside Cemetery.
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who became a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Biography
Elihu S. Williams was born near New Carlisle, OhioNew Carlisle, Ohio
New Carlisle is a city in Clark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,735 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:New Carlisle is located at ....
, the son of Henry Williams and Elizabeth Pettigrew, both of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Elihu Williams worked on his father's farm until 16 years of age, receiving education in the winter at public schools. Not satisfied, he demanded of his father to be sent regularly to school. His father told him if he wanted a better education than he was getting at home, to get it himself. With $1.50 in his pocket, Elihu Williams started out in life for himself.
He worked among the farmers to earn money to pay his board for a few months, then attended Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
to pass examination for a teacher's certificate. He taught school the following winter in Brandt, Ohio
Brandt, Ohio
Brandt is an unincorporated community in southern Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States. It was formed on the National Road as a stop for travelers on the road and for road toll-takers. It was laid out in 1839 by the Voorhis brothers. A toll gate was located at the east end of...
. In 1858, he commenced reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
in the office of F. P. Cuppy, Esq., of Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, continuing to teach in winters until February 1861, when he was admitted to practice of law by the Supreme Court of Ohio
Supreme Court of Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the U.S. state of Ohio, with final authority over interpretations of Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. The court has seven members, a chief justice and six associate justices, each serving six-year terms...
.
In October 1861, he enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 71st Ohio Infantry
71st Ohio Infantry
The 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 71st Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Tod in Troy, Ohio September 1861 through January 1862 and mustered in for three years service on February 1, 1862 under the command of...
serving for the duration of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was commissioned first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
February 14, 1862. He was in the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. He was promoted to captain February 10, 1863. In fall of 1863, he was detailed to the command of the military post at Carthage, Tennessee
Carthage, Tennessee
Carthage is a town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States, and is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,251 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Smith County, and perhaps best known as the hometown of former Vice President Al Gore, and his father,...
and remained there until the close of the war.
After the war, Capt. Williams remained in Smith County, Tennessee, and engaged in the practice of law. He took an active part in the first convention for the Reconstruction of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
at Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. In April 1865, he was commissioned District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for the Sixth Judicial District of Tennessee until the summer of 1867. He resigned to accept the nomination as Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
, to represent the district of Sumner
Sumner County, Tennessee
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 130,449. Its county seat is Gallatin, but its largest town is Hendersonville...
, Smith and Macon Counties, serving for two years in the Radical Legislature of Tennessee until 1869. He returned to agricultural pursuits at his farm.
On May 31, 1866 Elihu Williams married Alice Gordon, daughter of Dr. Wiley B Gordon and Virginia Russwum. They had 2 children; a third child enumerated as son in 1880 may have been adopted.
In 1875, he moved his family to Troy, Ohio
Troy, Ohio
* - Sports :In addition to Troy High School athletics, Troy is home to the Miami Valley Silverbacks indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League....
, where he established partnership with his brother Henry H. Williams in the practice of law. He also became editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the newspaper, the Buckeye. In 1886 he was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses from Ohio’s third district.
At the end of his congressional terms, he resumed the practice of law at Troy where he died. He is interred in Riverside Cemetery.
Sources
- Taylor, William A. Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901. Columbus, Ohio: The XX Century Publishing Company, 1901.
- The History of Miami County, Ohio. Chicago: W.H. Beers & Co., 1880, 854 pgs.