The Republican journal., 1914-08-06
The Death Of JOS. Williamson.
A Prominent Augusta Lawyer Found Dead
in Office Thursday.
rKennebec Journal July 81, 1871

The sudden death OF Hon. Joseph VIII
hanson. Thursday morning. carried such
a shock to Augusta as it seldom expert.
ences in the passing of well known
citizen. Comparatively few knew that
he had been i'll. Many had exchanged
greetings on the street with genial, smil'
ing, big-hearted "Joe," within two OF
three DAYS. His apparently splendid
physique and fine mind had seemed to
host Of friends as almost to defy disease.
Some. however, of Mr.. Williamson
friends have noticed and commented up
On the fact that for the last few months
he did not seem to be enjoying his usual
health. and letter left by him and dated
on the morning of his death, made it
clear that his action was due solely to
failing health and mental fatigue, and
in no way due to family or business
troubles.
Few men in Augusta, if any, or in the
State for the matter of that, had a wider
acquaintance or a bigger circle OF adj
mirers and friends than had Mr.. William
son. In college and law school, as news
paper reporter, as lawyer and as law
maker, as business associate, he had
gathered friends and had held them by
honest and loyal friendship. His smile
and kindly words were contagious. Al
WAYS a gentleman of cordial yet digni-
fed bearing, his presence lent optimism
and courage to any cause or gathering.
But in the brilliant career of this
splendid citizen an attack of melancholia
worked sudden disaster. Every charac-
teristic of his life and convictions was
violated in the unexpected mental ex-
plosion that directed his last act.
Mr.. Williamson was successful law
yer, had been an active, earnest, clear
headed law maker, always consistent
Democrat, honored and respected by
party, had been a conscientious county
attorney and, above all, was loving and
indulgent husband and father and good
citizen. He will be missed and mourned
as few men are. Our community is sad
dened by a bolt from clear sky. And to
Mr.. Williamson's family goes the sympa-
thy of ALL
At the time of his appointment by
Governor Haines as member OF the
Maine Public Utilities Commission, the
following brief sketch of Mr.. William
sons life was published and was widely
copied, for he was widely known:
''The naming of Hon. Joseph William
son of Augusta for membership IN the
Public Utilities Commission, is CRAFTY
ing to Democrats all over Maine and a
host of Republican friends and admirers.
"Genial Joe" is known all over Maine.
A staunch Democrat. he holds the entire
respect of political opponents, who know
him above party politics.
"Mr. Williamson was born in Belfast,
Me-, Feb. IA, 1869, the son Of Joseph and
Ada Hortense (Peirce) Williamson. He
graduated from Belfast High school IN
1884, and from Bowdoin College in 1888.
He was newspaper reporter In Angus
ia in 1889. He studied law at Boston
University, and was admitted to the bar
at Belfast, in 1891. Practiced at Belfast,
1913, and at Augusta since 1893, as
member of the firms of Williamson 4
Burleigh, and of Williamson, Bureigh 4
Mclean. He was married Nov. ~, 1891,
to Vallie, second daughter of Hon. b. Z.
Burleigh of Augusta, and has two sons,
one of whom is student at BoWdoln
College. He is a member of Trinity
Commandery, K. T., Calanthe Lodge.
K. of P, and Augusta Lodge, b. T. y.
E. Is trustee of the Lithgow Public
Library and of Augusta Trust Co.,
Stockton Springs Trust Co., and Waldo
Trust Co. at Belfast. Was City clerk IN
1905, alderman in 1909 and 1910, and fol-
many years member of the Democratic
CITY committee. He was member OF
the House in the 18th Legislature. "
The foregoing sketch should be supple
mented by Mr.. Williamson's efficient anc
Kennebec, and his recent election to the
board of overseers of Bowdoin College.
The immediate relatives surviving are
Vallie B., widow, William and Robert,
sons, the former manager of the Maine
Transportation Co. and Colonial Theatre,
the latter member of the class of 1915
Cony High school, and two sisters, MISS
Ada Williamson of Boston and Mrs. AL
bert PIERCE of Frankfort. Maine.
Few men were better known through
out Maine than he. For many years g
conspicuous figure around the ateHoust
during legislative sessions, an active
worker in politics had given him an &C
ouaintance which was broad. By every
BODY he was we'll liked. His natural goot
humor was proverbia!. 1t was seldom
apv one ever saw him in anger. Wher
provoked he rarely showed it, but con
cealed the state of his feelings with {
smile, which won him the name of al
ways being care-free.
Although young man, ne had won nj:
wav at the bar of Maine and in the polite!
of the State. He had had many honors
and was the man selected by Governor
Haines in April, 1913, to be the Demo
cratic member of the public utilities com
mission of the State when the act passed
by the legislature should be law.
AS a member of the Maine Legislature,
Mr.. Williamson in 1911 was very con-
spicuous figure. With Hon. W. 4. Pat
tangall of Waterville he was the leader
of the dominant party in the house.
During that memorable session, when
for the first time in over half century
the Democracy was in absolute control
of the government of Maine, he several
times showed his independence. There
were times when he took stand abso-
lutely opposed to Mr.. Pattangall, who
was accredited with being the controlling
spirit of that administration. But these
differences did not in the least affect
their friendship. If anything, it cement
ed the two mems regard for one another
more firmly. Between them, off the
floor. even when they were opposing
each other, it was Patti and Joe.
During the long number of years that
he was associated with his brother-in
law, Lewis A. Burleigh, he was the
court man of the firm. He was an elo-
ouent pleader and had great skill in the
Of u caSa TO a 1lrV He