Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-27
GOVERNOR WILLIAMS, OF INDIANA.

Governor James Douglass Williams,
Of Indiana. died after a very brief illness,
at indianapolis, Nov. 20. Quite unneces-
sarlly it would seem. in view OF re-
cent political history. Governor vii.
Hams went out OF the state in which he
was born-the state of Ohio-for polit-
Ical distinction. 1t was often boosted
by the governor that he had the blood OF
lou races in his veins. One parent
was Scot' h-lrish descent, the ether OF
Welsh-English. His birthplace was in
flqua county, o., and the date of his
birth was January l6, 1908. Ten years
later his father, who had lived in Ohio
since the early days Ut that state, re-
moved to Knox county, Ind, where the
governor has since continuously resid-
ed. His opportunities for education
were confined to the common school
uncommonly common in those DAYS in
that section OF the country-and it does
ne appear that he for many years avail
ed himself of the even limited adyan-
tages they afforded. His father died in
1928. leaving SIX children to make what
they could out OF a small piece of clear
ed land called, for sake OF compliment.
a farm. Several of bis brothers and
sisters forsoek the farm, but, putting on
the blue jeans" trousers which after.
ward gave him a name that almost en-
t'rely superseded the one given him in
baptism, the governor stuck to the
clearing, and was In 1881 able to marry
His wife was a Miss Nancy Huffman.
daughter OF a ~neighboring farmer. and
during the first five years OF their mar
rled lille they occupied a log cabin on
a quarter section OF wild land which ,hs |
young farmer had found it in his power
to purchase. A comfortable larm. house
surrounded by more than two thousand
acres OF improved land, now marks the
spot where the lit y log hut stood. and
Is a comfortable legacy for the family
he leaves behind
In 1889 young Mr.. Williams, or Far
mer Williams" as he wa. called was
elected a justice OF the peace. He was
to be honest and had q rouoh-
and-rsady humor that made him ex-
tremeiy popular with his rough-and.
ready neighbors. 1t a however,
"heh ne came into larger contact with
men mat he showed the possession OF
something more than an ability to sheer
at conventions ties and be popularity
funny. When his ultra democratic no
oifended, his sterling good sense
ana fne philaSophic mind repaired the
damages to his popularity. In 1913 he
was elected to the house OF repre-
yes OF his state and for nineteen
ears served IN that body and in the
state senate. For sixteen years sue. j
teeding 1906 he represented his district
IN the State board OF agriculture. The
Inost conclusive tests OF his well merit. I
cd popularity in Indiana were, however. d
furnished in 1874, when he was elected $
| member OF congress from the second =
'enSressionai district of his state bv tho I
inp~recedentedly large majority in the i
district OF 5000 votes, and when in 1876
he was elected governor. This last
lcnleVsment in the political history of
Blue Jeans Williams IS too we'll re- q
nemhsred TO need more than mere men
ion: Mr.. G.s Grth, the republican I,
'xndldate. had Withdrawn IN favor OF V
isrerai Benjamin F. Harrison, tor the /
purpose oi beating old Blue Jeans" =
he two political parties were then as h
low SO evenly balanced that 1t seemed f
mere question OF the personal popu. :,
ar!ty OF the candidates. TO offset the Il
''opu lrlty OF blue Jeans the repub- \
cans put up the popularity Of "Gener- C
| ben The country waited in ankle
y ior the result the defeat or election
I llden as president of the United +,
tates was thought 10 hang in the ball n
nee Election day arrived and ..Blue =
eans Williams was chosen governor II
l indiana by a vote of 213, l64 to 2OS,- "
tor General Ben. H,rri.on -