Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-06-16
JUDGE ]. F. WILLIAMS
dies AT WATERLOO
SUMMONS COMES TO WELL KNOWN
JUDGE AFTER WEEKS OF
ILLNESS.
LOCAL ATTORNEYS AT FUNERAL
Term of Service as Judge Cut Short by
Fatal Illness. Death Occurs
Saturday, June 18th.

NsASsAA ussJS VuAAS ASsAAs :.
Funeral services for Judge John 2.
Williams, who died at his home in
Waterloo at o'clock, Saturday, June
18th, 1920, were held at the home on
Tuesday afternoon. Honorary pail ).
bearers at the funeral were Judges Fl.
B. Boise, E. B. Stiles, George w. Dun
ham, F. G. Platt, c. E. Ransier and O.
B. Courtright. Active palf beasers
were selected from members Of the
Black Hawk County Bar Association.
Large delegations of members Of the
bar associations from the var
ious counties in the Judicial district
were in attendance to pay their tribute
of respect to the beloved jurist.
The Waterloo Courier gives the fol-
lowing account of the life of Judge
Williams:
"The attack that resulted in
Judge Williams death came without
any premonitory symptoms on the
night of January 81, 1920, at his
home One side of his body was
paralyzed and he was unable to speak.
For time he appeared to improve and
his speech was restored. but the par
alysis persisted. Three months later
he suffered another slight cerebral
hemorrhage and complications devel-
oped. Specialists were called into
consultation but in spite OF all that
medical skill and nursing could do,
Judge Williams continued to grow
weaker.
Thirty-one of Judge Williams "a
years were spent in the practice OF
the law. He was graduated from
the law department of the State Uni
versity of Iowa IN 1883. Five years
of his professional career We're spent
in his home town of ReinbeSk, and 20
years in Waterloo. He was one OF
the leaders of the bar in Black Hawk
county. He handled large litigations.
His clients were among the big busl-
ness men and the big interests OF this
city. The practice of his firm, Viii
liams & Clark, at the time OF his
elevation to the bench, June l, 1913,
to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Judge G. W. Mullan, May s, 1913,
was large and lucrative. He worked
SO hard that in recent years he was
at times on the verge of nervous col
lapse. Six years ago he was confined
to his home for five weeks by SER
ieus illness. Since then and up TO
the time he was advanced to the bench.
he worked arduously with few vaca-
tions.
Man of Judicial Mind.
"Soon after ascending the bench.
Judge Williams came upon a quiet
season, in July and August, and took
vacation. which proved restful. 1t
was spent with rod and reel on the
shores Of one of the beautiful lakes i'll
Minnesota. To his friends he confided
that he never felt more able to tackle
legal problems after he returned home.
His work on the bench was character
ized by broad knowledge Of the law.
judicial poise, fairness to all litigants.
courteous consideration of the lawyers
and careful weighing Of all legal
questions.
Although in his later years of prac-
tice Judge Williams represented cor
porations and other big interests, his
brief career on the bench showed that
he was fair to the man or institution
of small means.
"In Judge Williams court justice
was distributed with an even hand to
rich and poor alike. His heart was
tender to the erring boys and girls
who were brought before him in the
juvenile division Having once been
boy prone to share in the innocent
pranks of childhood, and later ia
ther, he was able to appreciate both
situations, and to advise wisely.
Lived Exemplary Life.
'.The legacy of an exemplary and
unsullied life is left to his family and
friends of Judge Williams.
Born in Dane county, Wis, in 1866,
Judge Williams parents brought him,
when he was three years of age, to
Grundy county. Iowa. The parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Benjamin B. Williams,
settled on a farm east of Reinbeck.
He attended the Reinbeck schools, and
after graduation from them pursued
course in the State University OF
Iowa. At 90 he was admitted to the
bar. and later became prosecuting at
torney in Grundy county. His first
association in the law in Waterloo,
was with G. D. Kern. The partner
ship Continued for two years. Then
Judge Williams practiced alone for
three years. Later he became asso-
ciated with o. G. Miller, and in 1912
he took James G. Clark in as part
ner.
For eight years Judge Williams
acted as city attorney in Waterloo.
While in that capacity his talent gain
ed wide attention throughout the state.
He handled large matters successfully
for the city.
"In 1891 Judge Williams was mar
ried to Miss Maud s. Thompson, Of
Grundy county. They lived upon
neighboring farms. They became the
parents of four children. His mother,
three sisters and two brothers, sur
vive, with the widow and children.
Judge Williams was member of
the Masonic order, Elks and knights
of Pithias."
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