History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 230 - 231

WALTER S. WILLIAMS

The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost business men of Wexford county, Michigan, and has by his enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the county in which he resides. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in the business enterprises with which he has been connected, and is well deserving of mention among the representative men of this section of the state. Walter S. Williams was born in Gloucestershire, England, on the 9th of May, 1856, and is the son of James and Paulina (Pritchard) Williams. They were the parents of a large family of children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and of whom the subject was one of the older members. When he was about a year old his parents removed to America, locating in Canada, where they lived about seven years. Not being satisfied with conditions there they removed to the United States, locating in Aurora, Illinois, where they resided about a year and a half, when they removed to Montague, Muskegon county, Michigan. After a residence there of seven or eight years they again changed their abode, this time to Shelby, Oceana county. In 1884 the subject moved to Manton, where he has since continued to reside. James Williams was a man of enterprise and progressiveness, and is credited with having started the first store at Shelly, where he was also engaged in the saw-mill business, being assisted in the latter business for several years by the subject. The father was highly respected and universally esteemed because of his many estimable personal qualities, and his death occurred in Shelly at the age of about sixty-one years. About the time Walter S. Williams attained his majority he took charge of the saw-mill business on his own account and operated it in this way about three years. On coming to Manton in 1884 he, in company with a brother, George F. Williams, rented a saw-mill and engaged in the manufacturing business. When he assumed charge of the business at Shelby he also assumed a heavy indebtedness which had been incurred by his father. The subject, however, devoted himself assiduously to the object of paying off this incumbrance, which he succeeded in doing to the last dollar, and at the time he came to Manton he was the possessor of but ten dollars, which he at once paid down on the purchase of a building lot in the village, and on this lot his present comfortable and commodious residence now stands. Upon engaging in business here with his brother, George F., they were for some time engaged in manufacturing different articles, but about a year and a half later commenced the manufacture of shoe-last blocks. They conducted operations in the rented mill for a short time and then purchased a small mill. They gave their sole and undivided attention to the business, doing all the labor themselves, but at length the business grew to such proportions that they were compelled to hire other workmen, and made additions to the plant from time to time, until at the present time they own the largest plant in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of rough turned last blocks. The factories consume a vast amount of hardwood timber, pay out a large sum of money in wages and in many ways have proven a direct and permanent benefit to the community. Mr. Williams has of recent years been interested to some extent in other lines of enterprise and in 1897 he and his brother George F. incorporated under the name of the Williams Brothers Company and engaged in the manufacturing and mercantile business. About two years later they purchased the Truman Brothers stock of general merchandise and, under the name of Williams Brothers continued business until September, 1902, when the Williams Mercantile Company was incorporated. At that time the subject was elected president and still holds that office. Mr. Williams also owns in his own right eighty acres of good land in this county, and the firm of Williams Brothers Company own about five thousand acres of as good timber land as is to be found in Michigan. The subject has always taken a deep interest in local affairs and in state and national politics casts his vote and influence in favor of the Republican party, believing the principles of that party to be those most conducive to the welfare of the American people. He takes an intelligent and abiding interest in all questions before the public and casts his vote with his honest convictions. His fraternal affiliation is with the Free and Accepted Masons. On the 21st day of January, 1881, Mr. Williams was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Lydia Colburn, the ceremony being performed at Shelby, this state. Mrs. Williams is a daughter of William and Jane Colburn, and was born at Missouri on the 21St day of September, 1862. This union has been blessed by the birth of three children, Maud, Abbie and Mart. Longfellow said, "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do, without any thought of fame." Illustrative of this sentiment has been the life of the subject and his career should serve as an incentive and an inspiration for others. He is a man of marked domestic tastes, whose life is devoted to his wife, children and home. Mrs. Williams is a lady possessed of qualities which have retained her the love and grateful appreciation of her loved ones and won for her the sincere regard and esteem of a large circle of warm and admiring friends.