Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-28

| born in Belfast, on February IL, 1869.
| He inherited scholarly tastes and
| naturally inclined toward collegiate
| education, graduating from Bowdoin
| College, which was also his fathers
| alma mater, in the class of 1888. In
| college he was what might be termed
| an all-round student, entering heartily
| into the athletic sports, while main
| tanning high rank in his studies. espe
| cially in mathematics in which he
won much-coveted prize. In fact. he
| combined social popularity, athletic
skill and high scholarship. He Inherit
| ed also love for the legal profession
| as his father was a well-known law
yer and enjoyed a large AMI varied
practice, and it was therefore natural
| that after graduation he should turn
| to the study of law. He prepared
| himself at Boston University, was ad-
| mitted to the bar in Waldo county in
| 1891, coming to Augusta in 1899, and
! forming partnership with his broth
er-in-law under the name of William
| son & Burleigh. For the y years that
| elapsed after that time Mir William
son was engaged in an extensive and
constantly increasing practice, and
was frequently engaged in trials in
| court.
You who have known him intimate
ly in both a personal and profession
al way have clearly and discrimi-
| natingly drawn his picture. Little can
he added. Were I to summarize l
should say: That in his personal and
social relations Bro. Williamson was
a charming companion. He was 1ovial
and sunny, running over with good hu-
NOR, and always seeing the human
side of things. He was gladly welcom-
ed in every gathering. and at our Bar
picnics his was conspicuous figure
He radiated good cheer, because he
was himself cheerful.
This good humor did not, however,
Indicate weakness, but strength. 1t
was not negative characteristic but
a positive. He was a strong man in
every sense-strong physically-aiways
commanding presence-and strong
mentally. of firm fibre, hardened by
use and experience.
THE personal characteristics OF
companionship, good nature and
strength, plus his untiring industry
and we'll seasoned judgment he
brought with him into the practice
of the law, and with their help he
made a great success. / do not know
that either when l was at the bar,
or since being on the bench, | nave
ever seen Bro. Williamson angry or
in temper. / have often seen him ear
nest and Incorporating but not un,
duly ruffied When pressing point
or pursuing a witness he vas not cas-
lily thrown off the track, but in the
pursuit he had no handicap of I'll
temper.
LAS practician before the courts
he was always we'll and Thoroughly
prepared both as to law and facts. He
had the breadth of vision necessary to
comprehend the scope of his case and
the legal perspective requisite to dis
eliminate between the important and
the unimportant. and to discover the
vital points.
HE was not easily abashed by OPP
position and could fight losing cause
with apparent confidence, a task by
no means simple. He was resource
full in emergencies. His mind like his
body was strong but nimble. Not
withstanding his size he could still
play a game of tennis with the agility
of youth of twenty, and his mind
was equally agile. This stood him in
good stead when in the midst of a
trial, the wind suddenly set in strong
from an unexpected quarter, for -
would readjust his sails and, if need
be, his course and stand up against
the unlocked for squall. These traits
served to make him an excellent trial
lawyer, and his arguments before both
court and jury were strong and con-
vincing. Above all Bro. Williamson
was an indefatigable worker, too much
so. He was always busy, and it SEEM
ed to us as doubtless it did to MIN.
that he could never grow weary. But
the apparently tireless engine became
tired at last, and rest came to him.
He will be greatly missed from this
Bar. He is missed and sincerely
| mourned today, and during this term
of court / have often been reminded
of the fact that his smiling counter
ance would never appear again in this
place, which was the scene Of so much
of his hardest labor and Of his great
est success.
"As citizen his loss will be deeply
felt. He possessed in an unusual de-
gree for a professional man, business
instinct and business judgment, and
these he had employed in the service
OF the city and the State.
AS a member Of our City Govern
| ment, of the Board Of Library Trus-
tees, as a representative in the Legis-
| lature and as County Attorney ne
proved to be competent. faithful
| and dependable public official. Two
other honors had come to him but
short time before his decease-his
election as an Overseer of Bowdoin
College, and his designation as a
| member of the new Public Utilities
Commission. Had he lived he would
undoubtedly have rendered notable
service to the State in a position for
which he was abundantly qualified.
I'VE cannot here speak of those
tenderer ties that bound him to his
family and his home His devotion
both was constant and complete.
Assembled here as we are this quiet
October afternoon, here in this spot
so closely associated with us all, and
with the generations of attorneys who
i n wv L u :