White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-25
JOHN B. WILLIAMSON
IDOL OF EARLY-DAYS
(By II. +. MILLER. J


Few men in the political history o!
White Pine county, or even of the
state of Nevada, have been more sin
gnlarly honored by the voters than
John II. Williamson, who was de-
servedly popular and whose memory
is held in esteem by every early--day
settler of the county. Mr.. William
son, who was born in Maine, came to
Marysville, Cal, while still a young
boy and was one of the early settlers
n Nevada. engaging in the lumber
business at Austin In partnership
With one OF the leading bankers of
Nevada ut that time.
This partnership started in 1868
before Nevada was admitted TO the
Union, and when the White Pine ex
element broke out in 1868 Messrs.
Williamson and Mccormick were
among the first on the ground and
started n lumber yard at Hamilton.
The partnership was later enlarged
10 include The late Henry A. Comins.
Mr.. Williamson and Mr.. Comins sub
sequently purchased the interest o.
Mr.. Mccormick when the latter en-
gagged In the banking business at Salt
Lake City. Utah.
WI W ii6l
public life was I'm 1874, when he
made the race for assessor on the re-
publican ticket In the ensuing No
vember election he defeated A. T.
Lowery, democrat. and held the Office
for three consecutive terms. In 1880
he declined n denomination and re-
fused to be candidate. james Liddle
then being named by the republicans.
r. fd11a hnwauaf Hnfnafn1 hy
Wash Woodbury.. democratic candi-
date.
After leaving the assessor S office
Mr. Williamson engaged in the real
estate and mining business at Cherry
Creek, where he became one of the
most active figures in the business
community. Mr.. Williamson during
the early days OF Cherry Creek made
more sales and closed more important
mining deals than all of the other
real estate men combined.
Cherry Creek at that time was oc-
rupied by a number of squatters who
nah merely settled on the land. Mr.
Williamson. who secured title to and
patented the townsite. decided lots to
squatters who had been living on
them and in the case OF poor people
even furnished the abstract free OF
charge. This put an end to a great
deal OF litigation among the resi-
dents. none of whom had previously
acquired legal title but many of
whom. had purchased the land :, good
faith from spectators. who had sold
the land TO which they had never Sc
|cured title
When the county seat was moved
from Hamilton to Ely in 1883 Mr..
Williamson was Endorsed by both re-
publicans and democrats for county
treasurer He was easily elected and
for the following sixteen years he
held the Office uncontested by any
candidate. ALWAYS receiving the in
dorsement OF both parties. In 1904
mis- health failed and he left for Cali
fornia 10 spend his last days with a
sister residing in San Jose. The
shock OF the earthquake In 1906 was
too much for his enfeebled eonstitu-
tion and he died in that year at the
age of rs years.
The writer first met Mr.. william
son at Cherry Greek In the fall of
1874 while he was making his first
race for election as county assessor
and knew him well for thirty years.
having business dealings with him
for the greater part of that time. Al
no tine was there ever a word said
against Mr.. Williamson and during
his sixteen wears incumbency of the
treasurer Office at no time did ha
ever fail To come to the assistance oe
a friend in need. without doubt he
has protected the property OF more
people In White Pine county from
being sold for delinquent taxes than
any t,,op In tho eauutv nj no time
while he had n dollar would he allow
n poor farmer Or other taxpayer to
be penalized.
Steadily falling health caused him
at the close of each term to decide
against continuing in Office. but his
protests that he wanted to quit were
always overridden and he was elected
again and again without any opposi-
fion. When he at last definitely de-
clined to hold the Office any longer he
was renominated in spite OF his pro-
tests that he would not serve IL elect
ed. lie finally persuaded his friends
that the condition OF his health was
such that he could no longer perform
his duties and he withdrew definitely
from the race. leaving the field to the
opposition candidate who had been
nominated as a matter OF routine
Mr.. Williamson was not what Is
popularly known as good mixer
hut In spite of this fact he enjoyed
probably wider friendship than any
man in the county. and once he be-
came mans friend he remained so
for life He was one of the few men
in the state who had risen to the rank
of thirty-third degree Mason and
Mt the time OF his death he was fit-
'tingly honored by that order.
Hickey Enters California University
J. G. Hickey left during the week
for California, where he will resume
his studies at tho University nf Cal
L L.. 4. L..