The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-12

Episcopal Church, and he held the
,'ofiice of president of the southern
Churchman Company for number OF
years He was considered one of
1.-THE greatest students of the Bible and
tof Shakesperean lore that the South
possessed and his writings, appearing
| In both the religious and secular
press, were much sought.
Too, he was distinguished laymau
'of the Episcopal Church. For some
sixty years Sunday was his busiest
day. In Monumental Church he con-
Quoted a Bible class in which a large
number of men enrolled and became
regular attendants that they might
share with him some of his pure in
Lterpretation OF the Bible. This class
bhe gave UP only when his age, n year
or SO ago, began to show it's weight
upon him But his viii was with the
group of students and Sunday usually
found him with the class listening
to the words of the teacher who sue
ceeded him in the iauda Bile work.
High In Church Councils.
For nearly forty years he was treas
urer OF the Diocesan Missionary So
cietv and for nearly thirty years he
represented his church in the do
cesar council. He was twice a dele
gate to the General Convention OF
: the Episcopal Church. In addition to
ing house from which the Southern
Churchman was issued, Mr.. Williams
twas president of the Virginia Bible
Society, president of the Richmond
Male Orphan Society, treasurer Of
Ythe Virginia Negro Reformatory pres
lident of the Virginia State School for
Colored Deaf and Blind Children. and
president of the Memorial Hospital
to which hts family has contributed
, largely.
Though he never held political of
flee and never aspired to office. he was
Democrat. He liked to he known
as a John Marshall Democrat" He
kept closely in touch with changing
political views and was always IN
1ormed regardless Of the turn taken
lin the city, in the State or in the
nation. y Keen student of public
affairs he was. because of his conser-
svatism. always one To whom the peoz
pie might safely turn for information
tand advice.
Essentially Promoter.
In the business OF the world--in the
development of industry, especially i'll
local transportation in southern
cities-his activity was that of the
promoter and fnancier. With his
sons, John SHELTON. K. Lancaster.
Langbourne NJ. and his son-in-law, +.
l.. Bemss, and later his son, Berkeley.
associated with him in the banking
house of John l.. Williams a. Sons,
he inspired the development and prac-
teal operation of the first CONNER
uially successful electric street rail-
way line in America. And this in
.Richmond. 1t was the old Clay Street
lime, the foreruuuer of the line on
BROAD Street, of the Richmond Trac-
ton Company and others, which now
have, through various developments,
E1ecome the lines of the Virginia Rail
way and Power Company.
: Among other transportation pro-
jects developed and financed by the
banking house Of John l.. Williams
.& Sons are local lines i'll Peters
burg. Norfolk. Augusta. Ga, and Ma
con, Ga, Nashville, Tenn. Knoxville,
Tenn, and Baltimore. and in New
Y ork. TO this house, behind which
was Mr. Williams personal guidance,
must be credited also the establish
ment of the Seaboard Air Line Rail-
way and the Georgia and Florida Rail-
road. Various other transportation
lines have been reorganized and re-
established at his direction. Mr.. VIII
liams was also largely responsible
flor the development of james River
water power.
Had Small Beginning.
Altogether the history of the great
head is one OF development of posi-
blities and could the many steps for
ward be arranged in their proper
sequence their recording would read
like romance.
Mr.. Williams became interested In
the banking business in 1853, when
he entered the banking house of
/ Lancaster a Company. Before that
time he had taught school In Loretto
Academy. Essex County. and he
later entered upon the practice of the
law. That, however. did not appeal
TO him and the wisdom OF his choice
in entering finance. has been many
times made apparent He was con-
nected with tho Lancaster house until
after the war. Then he entered the
banking business in small office on
Main Street. near what is now the
heart of the financial center. His
business grew to such proportions that
the later years saw the house of John
J.. Williams & Sons become one Of
the best known in the financial world.
Born In 1881.
John Langbourne Williams was born
in this city, July 8, 1881. His father.
John Williams, of Scotch descent. was
highly esteemed business man Of the
earlier days and at one time was
treasurer of the Richmond and Peters,
burg Railroad Company. His mother
was Stamina Arn4istead cambridge
daughter of VIM. cambridge, Of New
Kent County, and granddaughter of
Bartholomew cambridge, brother of
the wife of George Washington.
Passing his boyhood days In this
city. young Williams attended Rich
mond Academy. He entered Uniyer-
slty of Virginia from which he gradu-
ated in 1851 with the degree of master
OF arts. 1t was while he was pre-
pairing himself for the practice of
! law, which he soon abandoned. that
he taught school in Essex County.
/ He proved himself to be man Of
broad culture and his qualifications
gained him recognition the honorary
degree of d. Lift. being conferred
upon him by Washington and Lee in
1908. He was made a member OF the
Phi Beta Kappa society by the mother
chapter at William and Mary AS an
alumnus Of the University of Virginia.
he was devoted and loyal He made
gifts of money, books and portraits
among them those of Chief Justice
John Marshall and Commodore Maury,
to the university. The tablet Of prin-
ciples. adorning the library Of the uni
versity. also was a gift from him to
his alma mater,
During all his work Mr. Williams
seemed to have gained strength be-
Canae ~ his conviction Of he Noad