The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-29
Services at Home Probably il
the Afternoon.
DEATH NOT SURPRISE.
Had Been in. Care of a Nurse
Several Months.
His Long and Brilliant Career
in Kansas.

Williams who died at his summer home
at Mountain View, Col, Wednesday,
after lingering illness covering a per-
iod Of two years, will arrive in Topeka
Friday morning over the Union Pacific
railroad. The funeral arrangements
have not been completed but it is likely
that the funeral will be held from the
family home, 1895 Fillmore street, Sat
urday at 8 o'clock.
Mr.. Williams death was caused by a
general breaking down and though he
has not been seriously i'll, has not been
actively engaged in business for num-
Der of years. Mr.. Williams left his
home in this city the first day of July
l. Dickey of Tulsa. 1. T., son, Burns
Williams, and a nurse intending to
spend the summer at his cottage in the
hopes that the change would be of
benefit to his failing health.
The nurse who accompanied the party
had been a constant attendant for
months, though Mr.. Williams was able
to walk about the house he was so
weak that he was not left unattended.
The death of Mrs. Williams in Febru-
ary probably had much to do with has
tening the death of her husband, as she
had been i'll for two years previous to
the time of her death and 1T was
known that the illness must result in
death.
Following the death of his wife Mr..
Williams was greatly depressed in
spirits and told his friends prior to his
departure for Colorado that he did not
expect to return alive. For the past
ten years the hot summer months were
spent in Colorado and in the fall Mr.
Williams returned to his home in Tope-
ka, strengthened and buoyant with the
hopes of the future.
The change of scenes and the noun
tain air failed to produce the reviving
effect this season of the preceding
years, and though his condition remain
ed about as it was when he left this
city no news of a change for the worse
had been received in this city by his
son and the first word of his death was
brought by a telegram received by the
State Journal shortly after 3 O'Clock
Wednesday.
Personally, Mr.. Williams was grun
in manner and speech, but to those who
knew him best this was mannerism
not unkindly but acquired through his
close application to his duties as
lawyer. a kindly man, friend of the
friendless. and a helper of those need
ing his services whether able to pay for
them not.
grafters and promoters who thronged
the state when it was new and while
he was the attorney general, and much
of the fraud which was uncovered at
this time was due to his energy and
devotion to duty. New counties were
being organized in the state and ru-
mors reached Topeka that in many
instances the population consisted sole
~ of the animal inhabitants of the
counties. Barber, Comanche and Har-
per counties were among those so or
ganized, though it was said at the
time by those who knew that the pop
ulation of the three counties would not
amount to half a hundred souls.
The counties were bonded for quar-
ter of a million of dollars, though they
were practically without inhabitants
and an attempt was made to dispose of
the bonds to the state school fund and
was partially successful. commit
tee was appointed from the members
of the legislature to probe the story
but they were met by members of the
gangs which were promoting the
schemes and warned OF the dangers to
be encountered from attacks from In
dams. If an investigation was ever
made the report of the committee was
of such perfunctory nature that 1t
was not satisfactory to the attorney
general.
Judge Williams secured horse and
alone made a trip over the three coun-
ties in question which were said to be
filled by hostile Indians. He found
neither Indians nor white men and re-
turning wrote scathing report which
was delivered to the legislature then
in session, showing the perjury of the
men who had organized the counties in
question. The promoters fed and were
never apprehended, and though the
school fund and other investors lost
their money, the practice of illegally
organizing counties was broken up.
About a year ago Mr.. Williams
made what he at the time announced |
The city railway was asking the city |
council for the right to haul freight |
IN the daytime on the Topeka streets. |
Mr.. williams appeared at the council |
meeting and voiced an emphatic pro-
test and carried his point.
Judge Williams was one of the best /
known attorneys in Kansas, having |
moved to the state in 1851 a few years
prior to the settlement of his father
and family in Topeka. He was born
IN Adams county, Illinois. September
and, 1870, living in the county until
manhood and receiving his education
at its schools. His father was Archi-
bald Williams, an Illinois attorney
state, who came to Kansas to accept
judgeship rendered him in the new
state by President Lincoln.
Following in the footsteps of his
father Mr.. Williams chose law as his
profession and entering politics short
~ after he settled in Kansas was
elected city attorney of Topeka hold
ing the Office for two terms He was
then elected county attorney and sue
ceeded himself for a second term.
was acting United States district at
torney and was then elected attorney
general of the state, holding the Of
flee for two terms. At the expiration
of his two terms as attorney general
he withdrew from politics to direct his
energies toward the practice of law.
The Kansas Pacific railroad was be-
ing built about this time and he was
offered the position OF consulting at
forney for the line. which he accepted
and held until the road was merged
into the Union Pacific. In 1887 he
was made general solicitor for this
road and held the position until he
rendered his resignation, which was
ago and with the provision that he
should remain on the pay rolls as a