Hon. William Williams.
The subject of this sketch was born February 7, 1828, in Belmont county, Ohio, and died at Olathe, Kan., on Friday morning, March 21, 1902, aged seventy-four years.
 
In February, 1858, he removed from Ohio to Johnson county, Kan., settling in Gardner township. He served as justice of the peace in 1859, receiving his commission from Hon. Samuel Medary, governor of Kansas territory. In 1860 he was a member of the convention at Osawatomie, which organized the Republican party in Kansas. He afterwards served as justice of the peace, and was elected a member of the house of representatives in 1862, and again in 1871. He was county assessor of Johnson county and afterwards held the office of township assessor from 1866 to 1870. In 1865 he was president of the County Agricultural Society.
 
He removed from Gardner township to the city of Olathe soon after the war. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in his early manhood, and his life was that of an earnest, devout Christian. He helped establish and build the first M. E. church in Olathe and was made chairman of the first board of stewards of the church and held that position continuously until death. During the later years of his life he did not take a very active part in public life, but always took a deep interest in public affairs, and was almost always a member of the city and county conventions of his party. He served as justice of the peace of Olathe City in 1887 and 1888, and was afterwards editor of the Olathe Democrat.
 
He was an active worker in the Odd Fellows lodge, being a charter member of the first lodge of that order established in Olathe, and was known as the peacemaker of that organization. Mr. Williams was married to Miss Matilda C. Jacks in 1864. They reared a family of four children, all of whom are still living. Deceased was a resident of Johnson county for forty-four years, and of Olathe for thirty-five years. His death removes of the old landmarks of our community.
 
Perhaps no man in Johnson county was better known to the citizens of our county than William Williams. His influence was always in favor of the right, and he was universally respected and esteemed. The funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at the M. E. church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Buckner. Large delegations from the Odd Fellows and a great number of citizens followed the remains to Olathe cemetery, where they were interred, the final ceremonies being conducted by the order to which he had belonged for so many years.
 
Olathe Mirror
March 27, 1902
Page 2, col 1