The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-10-10
.HONORS TO WILLIAMS
Bar Association Give Banquet to
Member Terminating Residence.

Mahaska County Bar Association
extended special honors to one OF its
number Saturday evening at ban
lauet given at Hotel Downing. Hon.
John C. Williams is terminating resi-
dence in Oskaloosa to go WITH his
wife and son, Walter, to new home
in Florida where they have taken up
special interests. Every attorney In
town with but few exceptions was
was present for the occasion and each
and every one had something to say
about the guest of honor. John Z.
Williams may justly lay claim to be-
ling a pioneer resident OF Oskaloosa.
He came to the town when most OF
those now in business and in associa-
ton with him were boys. He was
an active and an aggressive business
man and his energies found outler
through divers channels. He was
married in Oskaloosa and has cast his
lot with the city up 20 the present
time. He was identified with Penn
College of the old day and his promin-
ence with the institution is recalled
to-day by many of the elder residents.
He has been one of the most able at
tOrneys of the Mahaska County Bar
and stands to-day close to the head
in line of seniority. He came within
a few votes of being elected district
Judge being defeated by narrow
moi p;, hu I,I1 4 al InhnGnn
He was elected county superintend-
ent of Mahaska County and served in
the Office a number of years. He was
likewise also called to administer the
affairs of the Office of county attor-
Iney. He was elected mayor of Os-
kaloosa in the spring of 1898 and
served in the Office through four
years, being reelected in 1905 and
Serving until April of 1897 and max
ing one of the best executives Oska-
loosa has had. He was a member
of the St. James Episcopal church of
Oskaloosa and was prominent in So
cial and fraternal organizations. Mr..
Williams has been one of the busiest
and most sought after men in the
lefty. Possessed of marked ability as
an orator and an impromptu talker,
he was much in demand upon public
Occasions nor has this condition been
confined to the city of Oskaloosa.
John c. Williams became one Of
the best known representative men
of city and county and his reputation
extended into state affairs. Since
J 1907 Mr. Williams has been asso-
,ciated in the practice of law with
Charles c. Orvis, in the firm of Viii
! liams & Oryis, former city attorney.
/ Mr.. Williams has contemplated at
| length removing to Florida where his
!. son had become interested in a
financial way and when, a few weeks
ago, his law Office was destroyed i'm
the Walton fire his decision was
= reached. These and other facts con
lcerning this man were brought out
at the after dinner program of the
banquet. Squire o. c. G. Phillips,
= Ione of the elder members of the local
bar, presided as POSTMASTER of the
occasion Every member of the bar
present had something to say about
John c. Williams, and that gentle
man. seated at the right of Mr.. Phil
lips, had the pleasure of hearing his
measure taken from varied and num-
lerous standpoints. Talks were made
by John o. Malcolm and John NJ. Her
ron, seniors of the Mahaska county
bar; by Judge Byron W. Preston, of
the Sixth district bench; by Ii. Fl.
Sheriff, o. N. Downs, James A. Dewitt
Irving G. Johnson, John N Mccoy,
James G.. Patterson, county attorney,
Frank T. Nash, G. Yer Ploeg, Daniel
! Davis, Hugh b. Mccoy, Charles c.
Orvis and Mayor S. V. Reynolds. In
concluding his remarks, Mayor Rey
, nOlds made presentation, in behalf of
the bar, of a handsome solid gold Ma
, sonic emblem. Mr.. Williams made
reply to the many nice things said and
gracefully acknowledged the hand
some gift of the bar. Mr. Williams
had been deeply touched and for once
words failed him. He briefly review
ed his life and his work in Oskaloosa,
told of regrets that came with leaving
. the old town and expressed apprecia-
ton of honors rendered him. He
J could say no more and by common
consent the banquet stood adjourned
Mr.. Williams is leaving with his fam
lily some time this week for the
South, and the old town is going TO
miss him.
Another Appointment.