Abraham Williams (clergyman)
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Abraham Jude Williams (February 26, 1781 – December 30, 1839) was an American
politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
from
Boone County, Missouri Boone County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Centrally located in Mid-Missouri, its county seat is Columbia, Missouri's fourth-largest city and location of the University of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 183,61 ...
. He was the third Governor of Missouri, serving an unelected interim term in 1825 and 1826 following the death of Frederick Bates. He also served in the
Missouri State Senate The Missouri Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 174,000. Its members serve four-year terms, with half the seats being up for election every two yea ...
.


Biography

Abraham J. Williams was born in Hardy County, Virginia, to parents Vincent and Elizabeth Williams. Williams was born
physically challenged A physical disability is a limitation on a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina. Other physical disabilities include impairments which limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders, blindness, epileps ...
, with one leg severely atrophied. Very little is known about his childhood or education, as even friends considered him a very private man. Abraham Williams arrived in the
Missouri Territory The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812, until August 10, 1821. In 1819, the Territory of Arkansas was created from a portion of its southern area. In 1821, a southeas ...
sometime between 1816 and 1820 and settled in
Franklin Franklin may refer to: People * Franklin (given name) * Franklin (surname) * Franklin (class), a member of a historical English social class Places Australia * Franklin, Tasmania, a township * Division of Franklin, federal electoral d ...
,
Howard County, Missouri Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri, with its southern border formed by the Missouri River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,151. Its county seat is Fayette. The county was organized January 23, 1816, and named ...
. At the time Franklin was a hotbed of political activity in the soon-to-be state, with many prominent men in early Missouri history residing there. In 1820 Williams moved a few miles away to Nashville, Missouri, a small community in Boone County where he and business partner James Harris ran a tobacco warehouse. Within a few years, Williams was on the move again, this time to
Columbia, Missouri Columbia is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the county seat of Boone County and home to the University of Missouri. Founded in 1821, it is the principal city of the five-county Columbia metropolitan area. It is Missouri's fourth ...
, where he established one of the first dry goods stores in the town, also providing services as a boot and shoe maker. He also purchased a large tract of land in the county and began farming operations. In 1822 Abraham Williams was elected to the
Missouri State Senate The Missouri Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 174,000. Its members serve four-year terms, with half the seats being up for election every two yea ...
as a
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...
, beginning a brief foray into politics that would lead to his election as governor. When he was re-elected to the senate in 1824 his peer chose him as President-pro-tem. He also served on the Accounts and Education committees, both important positions in the newborn state, and on the committee responsible for planning the new Missouri state capitol building. At the time of Governor Frederick Bates's death in office on August 4, 1825, Missouri had no Lieutenant Governor—the elected one, Benjamin Harrison Reeves, having previously resigned. Under the state constitution at that time Williams was next in line to serve until a special election could be held. Abraham Williams few months as governor produced nothing remarkable, as his time in office was so limited. The state General Assembly was out of session for most of his time as governor and he neither made appointments to state positions nor signed any important legislation. One of the few official documents he signed was to offer the then-large reward of two hundred dollars ( $200) for the apprehension of escaped prisoner John Patterson, convicted of murder and sentenced to death by St. Francois County jury. The aforementioned special election was held on December 5, 1825, with voters choosing John Miller, who assumed the office from Williams on January 20, 1826. Abraham Williams resumed his position in the Senate until he was defeated later in 1826 during the regularly scheduled elections. Williams then returned to his large scale farming activities in Boone County. In 1832 his name was put forth to the General Assembly by political allies as a candidate for the
United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...
. However this was the "Age of Benton" in Missouri, and Senator Thomas Hart Benton was elected to his third term by an overwhelming margin. Abraham J. Williams died on December 20, 1839. A lifelong bachelor, he left no children or close family and no will. His estate included nearly a thousand acres of farmland south of Columbia, as well as several building lots within the city. Williams is buried in the Columbia Cemetery,
Columbia, Missouri Columbia is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the county seat of Boone County and home to the University of Missouri. Founded in 1821, it is the principal city of the five-county Columbia metropolitan area. It is Missouri's fourth ...
.


References


External links


National Governors Association profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Abraham J. 1781 births 1839 deaths People from Grant County, West Virginia Politicians from Columbia, Missouri Missouri state senators Governors of Missouri Missouri Democratic-Republicans Democratic-Republican Party state governors of the United States 19th-century American politicians Businesspeople from Columbia, Missouri Burials at Columbia Cemetery (Columbia, Missouri) 19th-century American businesspeople