Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-04-12
a Tribute to a Worthy Man.

o. tllnc, HUnor6u resident pl THIS CITY, Is
taken from the Ne"hurgh, (N. "
DaHg r. .i'>ter, oi the 18th inst:
Charles +. Williams, cx-president Of
the board ol trade and president OF the
Beyeridge Brewing company died, at
his home, 1862 Montgomery street, last
night, after comparatively brief i'll
ness. Mr.. Williams has been in poor
health for some years past, but it was
not considered to he OF serious char
acter. He WAS of All active nature and
probably suffered when even his near
est friend knew notiIngOf it. On Fri
day last while attending to his duties
at the office of the brewing company
he was taken i'll with II chill, was re-
moved to his home. gradually grew
worse and passed away a. stated above
4 complication of diseases is given as
the cause of death lie was aged about
&C wears
He was the son OF Samuel Brewster
and Mary Johnes Williams and grand
son OF Jonas Williams, who rendered
important services during the Revolu-
tionary War ut the time OF the oc-
cupancy OF Newburgh and New Wind
sor by Washington and La Fayette.
Eight brothers and sisters grew to man
hood and womanhoOd. Charlotte
(Mrs. Robert Forsyth Eliza (Mrs
Walsh, OF New York, Jonas, Harriet,
Mrs. Francis p Weed,) George and
Samuel who lived on the Pacific coast
In 1866 he married Miss Margaret $.
Ryerson, eldest daughter of Col. Peter
NJ. Ryerson, of New Jersey, who was
killed calamity leading his regiment
at the battle of Williamsburg, one of
the first battles OF the rebellion.
MIR. Williams has had an eventful
career, and undoubtedly saw more OF
the hardships attending life on the
plains and the far west than any other
resident of this city ever experienced.
In his early manhood he left Newburgh
TO 90 west in the employ OF the Wells,
Fargo Co. at the time when pony ex-
press was run by that corporation. He
was st one time considered their most
trusty rider, and the stories he told in
later years OF hair-breadth escapes in
contests with the Indians who dis
puted the rights of the white man to
encroach upon their territory were ex
citing in the extreme. Mr.. Williams
settled in Portland, Oregon. He had
been a fireman in Newburgh, con-
nected with old Cataract Engine COM
pany, and his knowledge Of fire ap-
paratus made him a particularly
valuable man in the place. He be.
came chief engineer of the fire depart
ment of that city, and put it on an ex-
cellent footing. When he went to
Olympia, Washington. latter in life, he
organized the fire department there,
and he ever after pointed to it with
pride, as he had just cause to do.
The first fire engine the town had was
presented by him. Shortly after the
war of the rebellion he returned east,
and for number OF years had charge
of the New York branch of the
Beverage Brewing company of which
his brother, Jonas Williams, was
president. On the death of Mr..
Williams he came to this city, was
elected to succeed his brother, took
charge of the company and remained
its president up 10 the time of his
death.
Deceased was noted for his liberality
to his employees. No Christmas was
allowed to pass without substantial
remembrance to all in his employ.
For one year he was president OF the
Newburgh board of trade and as a
public spirited citizen tried to advance
the good and welfare of the city OF his
birth. Mr.. Williams is survived by a
widow, one son and two daughters.
| Mr.. Williams had, as stated above, a
great love for firemanic affairs. 1t
was mania with him almost. Dur.
ing the recent iiremanic tournament
in this city he devoted much OF his
leisure time to arousing interest in
the hand engine contest, and the
writer knows that he was in corre-
spondence at one time with no less
than a score of companies, endeavor-
ing to bring them here. He went to
Middletown time and again 10 do
what he could to fix Phoenix engine
in shape for the tournament. The
flag on the house Of Lawson Hose
Company floats at half mast to-day as
a tribute of respect to his memory.
Mr.. Williams was a member OF
Hudson River lodge. F. and A. NJ.
He was raised" in Olympia lodge No.
l, of Washington. When he returned
to the city of his birth he took his
demit and joined Hudson River lodge.
He was also q member of the First
Presbyterian church, of which he was
one of the trustees. He was a trustee
of the Cedar Hill cemetery and a
member of the Newburgh Historical
society.