The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-14
A NOTABLE SOUTHERNER.
DEATH OF G. ". WILLIAMS,
BANK PRESIDENT

And Finaneler-Turned Over a Million
and a Half of Dollars TO HIS Former
Iartner, the Late Daniel Hand, II
GuiIford, Conn.-"A Romance of FL
nance"
Mr. George W. Williams, senior MEM
Der of the banking house of George W.
Williams & Co, and president Of the
Carolina Savings bank. Of Charleston,
S. c., died at his home January 6, aged
eightythr years. Heart failure was
the immediate cause of his death. Not
Withstanding his advanced age Mr.
Williams appeared to he hale and ac-
tive Monday and LOGGED after his bust
ness interests with his customary care.
He was stricken suddenly and, al
though his mind was clear until the
end, he realized his condition and met
death with that calmness and serenity
which robs it of its sting.
Four children are the surviving mem
bers of Mr.. Williams family. They
are: George w. Williams. Jr., Henry
P. Williams, Mrs. w. P. Darlington, all
of whom live in Charleston, and Mrs.
Patrick Calhoun, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr.. George w. Williams, Jr., and farni-
ly, who have been spending the holi-
days at Nacoochee Valley, Ga, will re-
turn to the city this morning. Mrs
Calhoun will not be able to make the
journey from Ohio to Charleston. but
Mr., Calhoun and his eldest daughter
are expected to arrive here in time to-
day to attend the funeral services.
Funeral services were conducted at
Trinity M. E. church. Charleston,
Wednesday afternoon. Interment will
be in Magnolia cemetery.
A SKETCH OF MR.. WILLIAMS
LIFE.
The following is an authorized and
comprehensive sketch of Mr.. Williams
life:
George Walton Williams was born in
Burke county, North Carolina, Decenl-
Der 10, 1920. The Williams family are
of Welsh descent, having emigrated to
America on account of religious perse-
cution. In 1899 Edward Williams, an
enterprising member of the family from
Eastton, Mass, came south and located
in Charleston, S. C. A few years later
he removed to the mountains OF North
Carolina and formed partnership with
Daniel Brown, a successful farmer and
merchant. He soon afterward married
Mary Brown, daughter OF hisa~partner,
and of their numerous children born,
George w Williams is the fourth and
youngest son. When three years old
his father, Major Edward Williams re-
moved from North Carolina to the more
genial and fertile regions Of Nacoochee
Valley. Ga, where he purchased large
and valuable tract of land, and here, on
the very border Of civilization, inhabi-
ted principally by Cherokee Indians,
Mr. Williams childhood and early
youth were passed. His father was a
man of great energy and through his
untiring exertions the fertile valley was
brought into a high estae of cultivation.
Major Williams first introduced herd
grass. timothy and clover. and estab-
lished cheese diaries, shoe factories and
like improvements, and in the way did
much TO advance the agricultural and
industrial interests of northeast Geor-
gia.
Major Williams appreciated the value
of character and trained his sons to
habits of temperance, Industry and
self reliance, setting before them in his
L. Ia II hi
most excellent wife. a woman Of great
| energy, piety and benevolence.
The subject Of this sketch, in his
fourteenth year, lost his good mother
a severe loss to one who was so much
indebted to her for his early training,
and consequently home lost much of its
attractions to him. Having penchant
for trading, his natural instincts led
him to regard the commercial world as
his proper sphere of action; he deter
mined to try a wider field to develop
his pent-up energies. Major Williams
possessed horses, buggies and money,
but as his son insisted on leaving home
in his teens the father declined to offer
him any facilities, imagining that the
inexperienced youth would return the
sooner to his paternal roof. Nothing
daunted, the boy set forth on his jour
ney of one hundred and fifty miles to
Augusta, Ga. in October, 1888.
The young adventurer believed that
where there is a will there is a. way"
He started on his two strong feet, pro-
PEELED by a resolute will and untiring
perseverance. At that time there were
but ten miles Of railroad in the great
state of Georgia, and but a few hun
dred in the whole south. Had there
been thousands they would not have
awaited boy with only ten dollars in
his pocket To lessen his expenses he
made bargain with a kind neighbor,
who was going with his wagon loaded
with the mountain products tO~Rugus-
Ia, Ga. He assisted in cooking and
scotching for his board The board, of
course, was rought and the lodging at
night on the ground, but this outdoor
life developed the muscles and was an
important training for a boy starting
out in life with a determination to sue
coed. The journey of one hundred and
fifty miles was made in seven days, at
an expense of twenty-five cents. He
was now among strangers in a strange
land. Fortunately he procured a situa-
ton with Mr.. Daniel Hand in a whole
sale grocery establishment, at the NOM
inal salary for the first year of fifty
dollars and board. He was prompt, ac-
tive and industrious, did whatever