John K. Williams (1822–1880) was an American lawyer and legislator. Born on August 22, 1822, in

McKean County, Pennsylvania McKean County is a rural county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,432. Its county seat is Smethport. The county was created in 1804 and organized in 1826. It was named in honor of former Pennsylv ...

, he studied law in

Meadville, Pennsylvania Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The city is within of Erie and within of Pittsburgh. It was the first permanent settlement in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The population was 13,388 at the 2010 censu ...

and practiced law. In 1846, he moved to Shullsburg,

Wisconsin Territory The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belmont was ...

. Williams practiced law and managed farm property in Lafayette County, Wisconsin Territory. In 1850, he served in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, succeeding fellow Democrat William H. Johnson. Williams was chief clerk in the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...

in 1852 and 1853. He was also clerk of the

Wisconsin Circuit Court The Wisconsin circuit courts are the general trial courts in the state of Wisconsin. There are currently 69 circuits in the state, divided into 10 judicial administrative districts. Circuit court judges hear and decide both civil and criminal case ...

for Lafayette and was regent for the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

. Williams died in Shullsburg, Wisconsin,'History of La Fayette County, Wisconsin, Western Historical Company: Chicago, 1881, Biographical Sketch of John K. Williams, pg. 742 on April 4, 1880.

References

1822 births 1880 deaths People from McKean County, Pennsylvania People from Shullsburg, Wisconsin Pennsylvania lawyers Wisconsin lawyers Businesspeople from Wisconsin Employees of the Wisconsin Legislature County officials in Wisconsin 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American businesspeople 19th-century American lawyers Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 19th-century Wisconsin politicians {{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Democratic-stub