Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-12
JOHN |. WILLIAMS
DIES AT RIPE AGE
Banker and Railroad Builder
Passes Away at His
Home.
GAVE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Was Father of Comptroller of
the Currency and OF State
Health Commissioner.

John Langbourna williams. senior
member Of tho nrm of John L. williams
e. Sons. father Of John shelton Will
linms, Comptroller OF the Currency. and
of State Health Commissioner Ennion
g. Williams. and of other distinguished
sons. passed away at his home. 3l5
East Grace Street, last night at '1:45
o'clock. When the end came he was
surrounded by all tho members Of his
family except u. Lancaster Williams.
OF Baltimore. who was unable to be
present during his fathers last illness.
Mr.. Williams was recognized as one
OF the founders or the newer Richmond.
IL was here that he spent his youth and
his manhood, and here that he l;tborcd
10 make the city what 1t is to-day
lie was veteran citizen OF marked
personality and consistent career and
his life and record constitute a dis
tinct asset OF the community He was
identified with all the things that were
for the public welfare. and his interests
lay always with that which would help
others
SERVED CONFEDERACY
AS FISCAL AGENT
Mr.. Williams was born In Richmond
on July l3. 1881. and was in his eighty
fourth year when he died. He went
To the Richmond schools. and graduated
from the University OF Virginia with
the degree of master OF arts in 1851
Afterwards he became Il teacher. then
practiced law. and In 1858 he became
member OF the banl-ing firm OF John
y Lancaster * Son.
IL was this banking Arm which be-
came the fiscal agents of the Confed-
crate government. and which provided
mat government with the sinews OF
war through the flotations OF the vari-
Gus Confederate bond issues.
Through this period Mr. Wnliams's
responsibilities were heavy. and his cx-
periences were Of corresponding value
and interest His relationship TO the
Confederate government brought him
into intimate acqua aintance with Prcsi-
dent Davis. with General Robert e
Ice and with many others of the lead
era during those strenuous days
LEADER IN BUILDING
OF THE NEW SOUTH
subsequently,. Mr.. williams became a
banker. railroad hnancier and "A
leader In the economic reconstruction
or the South. Along with his business
activities he combined those of the
reader and student. and he entered into
and became Interested in all depart
ments OF life. AS he learned he began
10 write. and the newspapers of an
earlier time bear testimony to the
profundity Of his mind and to the
acumen with which he judged men and
issues.
AS Mr.. Williams advanced in years
he felt. with an c"er-increasing con
Niction. the need OF faith in the large
and eternal purposes which govern the
world. In letter he once declared:
Without our holy religion. life is not
worth living. The bases OF our ciyi-
llzation are the Old Testament with
the great seal OF the ten command
inents, and the new, with the seal OF the
Lords Prayer. Our Saviour, in His
divine manhood. the desire of all ma
tons and the deep craving OF human
i,y, is the only solution OF the terrific
and overwhelming problems OF life"
II was according TO the principles
expressed in this letter that Mr.. Will
hams lived, and it was in accordance
with them and with an absolute trust
in the Maker of all things that he en-
dured his last illness and died
GAVE FUND WHICH ERECTED
THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
Mr.. Williams will be chiefly remem-
bered in this community by his founda-
tion of the Memorial Hospital. 1t was
~ first chartered as the Charlotte
Williams Corporation, in memory of his
daughter, Miss Charlotte Williams. who
was drowned while yachting at Old
Point. Mr.. William- made the original
donation OF 100000, and later enlarged
that amount to sl5O,OOO. Later friends
and relatives came in and completed
an outlay OF approximately s250,OOO,
and which is dedicated to the relief of
suffering humanity and to the instruc-
tion In the science of medicine under
the management of the Medical College
of Virginia.
Comment was made last night on the
singular coincidence Of the death with
in so short period OF John =. Branch,
Alexander Cameron and John l.. Will
liams, al men who had had n large
share In the industrial revival of the
South after the war period. 1t was re-
called last night that few months
ago special agents. representing the
Virginia Debt Commission, took depo-
stions from Mr.. Branch and Mr. Will
liams as to the wartime value of GER
tain securities owned by the State and
which are part OF that controversy
CAME Of DISTINGUISHED
VIRGINIA FAMILY
John l.. Williams was born in Rich
mond on July l3, 1881, the son Of John
williams and Sianna Armstead DAN
bridge Williams. His mother was the
daughter of william cambridge. Of New
Kent County, and granddaughter of
Bartholomew cambridge. brother Of
George Washington's consort
Mr.. Williams passed his boyhood in
this city. and attended the Richmond
academy. Later he entered the Uni
versity OF Virginia. where he grad
uated with the degree OF master Of
arts and In the school OF mixed mathc-
matics
For short time after leaving the
university Mr.. Williams taught school
In Loretto Academy, Essex County
lie prepared himself for the practice
Of law, but. finding that profession not