Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-10
J. R, WILLIAMS PASSES AWAY
OFFICIAL OF HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIvES DEAD.
Succumbs Early Today to Acute At
tack Of Bright's Disease-Plans
for Funeral.

John r. Williams of Scranton, Pa. who
for several years was file clerk of the
House of Representatives. died of an
acute attack of Bright's disease at the
Pennsylvania Club here early today. He
was taken i'll about six weeks ago. and
his condition gradually grew worse until
the end. Mr.. Williams, who was forty
eight years of age, was for a number OF
years private secretary to former Repre-
sentative William A. Conneli of the elev-
enth district of Pennsylvania. Brief fu-
neral services will be held at the Penn
sylvania Club tomorrow morning, after
which the body will be taken to Scranton
for interment.
John Rufbatch Williams was born in
Averaman. near Aberdere. Glamorgan-
shire, South Wales, July II, 1861. He
came to this country with his parents
when three years of age and was reared
in and about Scranton. Pa, where he re-
sided for, many years. He spent his boy
hood days working in the coal breakers
and coal mines of the anthracite region
of Pennsylvania. His parents were poor.
and when he was only ten years old he
picked slate III the old Bellevue breaker
of the Delaware. Lackawanna and West
ern Railroad Company near Scranton.
When he reached the age of twelve
which was the age at that time that boys
were permitted under the law to enter
the mines to work--he went into the old
Bellevue shaft of the same company as
a doortender, and from that time for
about twelve years employed in
various capacities from door boy to fire
boss in the various mines of the anthra-
cite regions.
But he did not like the work and was
anxious to secure employment elsewhere.
and with that end In view managed to
save something of his earnings with
which he was enabled to attend the
Wyoming Seminary at Kingston. Pa. for
three winters. during which time he
studied the common English branches.
Later he became bookkeeper for some of
the largest coal and industrial Corpora
tions in the Wyoming valley.
Active in Politics.
From the time he cast his first ballot
Mr.. Williams was active in the politics
counties of Pennsylvania. AT one time
he served as chairman Of the first legis-
lative of Luzerne county. which
included the city of Wilkesbarre. For
a short time he served as deputy recorder
of the same county and resigned to be-
come prIvatc secretary to NJ. b. Nilnams.
representative in Congress from Luzerne
campaign Mr.. Williams managed. On the
retirement of Mr.. Williams from Con-
gress. he was appointed by Maj. Nc
Dowell, clerk of the House, to the posi-
ton Of document and bill clerk Later he
became deputy postmaster at Wilkes
barre. but served only a short time and
resigned to become private secretary to
William Council, the millionaire coal
operator of Scranton.
Mr. Williams also filled various other
places at the Capitol, having at vari-
Gus times assistant in the disbursing Of
flee, assistant file clerk. stenOgrapher to
the clerk of the House. and resolution and
petition clerk.
The appointment of Mr.. Williams to the
position of file clerk of the House Of
Representatives, one of the highest and
most important places within the gift OF
the clerk. was particularly pleasing to
the employees of the House and to the
members of the House press gallery. Mr..
Williams appointment was asked for by
the entire republican congressional COM
mittee and other members of the House.
Mr.. Williams went as delegate from the
tenth district of Pennsylvania to the ma
tional republican convention held at Chi
cago last June.
Mr.. Williams was secretary Of the Penn
sylvania republican state committee,
treasurer of the Pennsylvania Club Of
this city secretary of the Scranton Life
Insurance Company and a member Of the
Pen and Pencil Club of Philadelphia, the
Scranton Press Club, the National Press
Club of Washington and of the Order OF
Elks.