William B. Williams (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Brewster Williams (July 28, 1826 – March 4, 1905) was a politician and judge from the U.S. State
of Michigan
.
Williams was born in Pittsford, New York
. He attended the common school
s, received an academic education, and graduated from the State and National Law School
, Ballston Spa, New York
in 1851. He was admitted to the bar
the same year and commenced practice in Rochester, New York
. He moved to Allegan, Michigan
in 1855.
Williams was a probate court judge from 1857 to 1865 and a member of the Michigan Senate
from 1866 to 1870, serving as president pro tempore in 1869. He was also a member of the State constitutional convention in 1867, and a Michigan delegate to 1868 Republican National Convention
. In 1871, he was appointed by Governor
Henry P. Baldwin
to serve as a member of the State board for the supervisory control of the charitable, penal, and beneficiary institutions, which position he resigned upon his election to the U.S. Congress.
After the death of U.S. Representative Wilder D. Foster
on September 20, 1873, Williams was elected November 4, 1873 as a Republican
to fill the vacancy. Williams was elected to represent Michigan's 5th congressional district
in the 43rd Congress
, serving from December 1, 1873 to March 3, 1877. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1876.
William B. Williams served as railroad commissioner of Michigan
from 1877 to 1883 and resumed the practice of law. He died in Allegan and is interred there in Oakwood Cemetery.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Williams was born in Pittsford, New York
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
. He attended the common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s, received an academic education, and graduated from the State and National Law School
State and National Law School
State and National Law School was an early practical training law school founded in 1849 by John W. Fowler in Ballston Spa, New York located in Saratoga County. It was also known as New York State and National Law School, Ballston Law School, and Fowler's State and National Law School. In 1853 the...
, Ballston Spa, New York
Ballston Spa, New York
Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County. The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of two...
in 1851. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
the same year and commenced practice in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He moved to Allegan, Michigan
Allegan, Michigan
Allegan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,838. It is the county seat of Allegan County. The city lies within Allegan Township, but is administratively autonomous....
in 1855.
Williams was a probate court judge from 1857 to 1865 and a member of the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from 1866 to 1870, serving as president pro tempore in 1869. He was also a member of the State constitutional convention in 1867, and a Michigan delegate to 1868 Republican National Convention
1868 Republican National Convention
The 1868 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on May 20 to May 21, 1868....
. In 1871, he was appointed by Governor
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
Henry P. Baldwin
Henry P. Baldwin
Henry Porter Baldwin , a descendant of pilgrim father Nathaniel Baldwin, was the 15th Governor of Michigan and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.-Early life in Rhode Island:...
to serve as a member of the State board for the supervisory control of the charitable, penal, and beneficiary institutions, which position he resigned upon his election to the U.S. Congress.
After the death of U.S. Representative Wilder D. Foster
Wilder D. Foster
Wilder De Ayr Foster was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Foster was born in Orange County, New York where he attended the common schools. He moved to Michigan in 1837, and engaged in the hardware business at Grand Rapids in 1845...
on September 20, 1873, Williams was elected November 4, 1873 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 fill the vacancy. Williams was elected to represent Michigan's 5th congressional district
Michigan's 5th congressional district
Michigan's 5th congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.It is currently a mostly industrial area , with Tuscola County being the main exception. It encompasses much of the area south of Saginaw Bay...
in the 43rd Congress
43rd United States Congress
The Forty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1873 to March 4, 1875, during the fifth and sixth...
, serving from December 1, 1873 to March 3, 1877. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1876.
William B. Williams served as railroad commissioner of Michigan
Michigan Railroad Commission
The Michigan Railroad Commission was an agency in the state of Michigan which regulated the operations of railroads within the state. It was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1873; in 1919 it was abolished and its functions transferred to a new body, the Michigan Public Utilities...
from 1877 to 1883 and resumed the practice of law. He died in Allegan and is interred there in Oakwood Cemetery.