The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-27
THE REAPER DEATH


AWAY ON SUNDAY
An Active Life Ended and a Good Cfti.
zen of Wilmington Gone to His He.
ward-Brfef Sketch Of His Business
Career and His Private Lffe-The
Funeral to Take Place at IL O'Clock
This Morning-Action by the Produce
Exchange
Death has again visited Wilmington
and taken from her midst another or
her most prominent and highly respect
ed citizens. This time it is Mr.. Geo.
w. Williams who passed away.
For several years Mr.. Williams has
been in bad health but while he was re-
tired from active business he took in
terest in affairs generally and when he
was able was to be seen on u streets
and at the Produce Exchange. Slowly
but surely he declined, and on Wednes-
day last he showed evidence Of paraly-
sis. He was down town on that day
and it is the last time he was to be seen
on our streets. The p%aralytic stroke
was pronounced on Thursday and he
gradually sank until l o'clock Sunday
afternoon when he passed away at his
home. No. 10 south Fifth street, be-
tween Market and Dock streets.
Mr.. Williams was a native of North
Carolina and was born February 2,
1881. in Chatham county, his parents
being Mr.. Nathan and Mrs. Martha
Ruth Williams. He spent his early
life in his native county and received
his education at the hands Of private
tutors and in the common schools OF his
day. He never had the advantages Of
a collegiate course, but he was a man
more than ordinary sense n natural
ability. When the discovery of gold
was made in California in 1849, and so
many seekers after fortune left the
esat to 90 to the gold fields Mr.. Will
liams with a party Of North Carolinans
went to California, going o the
Golden Horn an a sailing vessel. he
returned to North Carolina in a year or
two, and first entered business in
January 1852 in Cumberland county,
near Fayetteville, where he conducted
a general merchandise business in a
small way. His business was success
full, however, and it was enlarged IN
1853, when he admitted as a partner
his brother, the late Mr.. John D. Will
Iiams, of Fayetteville. The firm be-
came G. w. Williams & Co., and MI.
Williams continued in it's management
AL loo r1u IN 1898 uyhnn hp "a m q to Nil
mington and formed a copartnership
with Captain David R. Murchison,
Colonel K. M. Murchison, and Mr.. Jno.
D. Williams. They established a
wholesome grocery and commission
hous in Wilmington, under the firm
name of Williams & Murchison, with
Mr.. George w. Williams as manager,
a Wholesale grocery and commission
house at Fayetteville, under the firm
name OF John D. Williams & Co., with
Mr.. John d. Williams as manager, and
a wholesale commission house in New
York under the firm name Of Murchl-
son & Co., with Colonel K. M. Murchl-
son as manager. In the course of time
Mr.. w. F. Sorey, of New York, was ad-
mitted as a partner. In January, 1882
Mr.. H. c. Mcqueen was admitted as a
partner, Mr.. John D.. Williams having
retired. The firm continued business
in Wilmington as G.. w. Williams &
Co., and in New York as MurchisOn &
Co. Captain D. r. Murchison died Feb
ruary %, 1882, and upon his death Mr.
Williams was appointed administrator
of his large estate and by his judicious
management of the trust saved his heirs
many thousands Of dollars. The firm
continued in business with the other
partners and achieved the most sigma
success, and in June 1898, established
the successful banking house Of Muir
Gibson & Co., in this city, with Mr.
H. c.. Mcqueen as manager. On the Is
of September, 1894, Mr.. Williams retired
from the firm, on account of his health
and has since lived in retirement.
The deceased never took an activ'
part in politics or sought public hon
Ors, always preferring to give hi!
whole attention to business affairs. HI
took an active part in the organization
man, of the institutions of Wilmington
and served them in various capacities
He was a number of years a director
of Oakdale Cemetery Company and wa
for some years vice president of tina
AAS q oAoo OAS VI SAS "a
ganizers of the Wilmington Compress;
and Warehouse Company and was TO
some time president of the company
He was also a director and the frs
president of the Carolina Insurance
Company, of this city. For many year
he was a director Of both the Cap
Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway Com
pany and of the North State Improve
ment Company which owned the con
trolling interest in that railroad. H
has taken an active part as member o
the chamber of commerce and the pro
duce exchange, and in all the bushes
affairs Of Wilmington has been
prominent factor. He was deeply in
terested in the development of Will
mington, and in many ways has con
tributed to its growth in all respects.
1t Manchester, Cumberland county
April 18th, 1854, Mr.. Williams marie
Miss Kate A. Murchison, daughter O
Mr.. Duncan Murchison and sister O