1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

Dr. William Williams, a prominent and well known physician of Pittsburg, Crawford county, has been located in practice here since 1886, and has gained a reputation and a patronage among the best classes of citizens of which he may well be proud. He has relied on his own efforts for his advancement, and has throughout his career been noted for his energy and close application to his work, so that success has come to him as almost a logical result. Outside of his profession, he has likewise been a public-spirited citizen, and he has figured prominently in the professional, business and public activities of his city.

Dr. Williams was born in Henry county, Tennessee, in 1861, a son of R. M. and Lucy (Walker) Williams. His father, who was born at Carthage, Tennessee, followed the vocation of farming, and about 1870 came to Missouri and settled near Marshfield, Webster county, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1885. Mrs. Lucy Williams, his wife, was born in Tennessee, and died in the same state, in 1864.

Dr. Williams was reared on the Missouri farm, and attended the distict schools until he was eighteen years old. He then went to Lebanon, Missouri, and spent three years in the Laclede Seminary. He then took up the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. D. A. Williams, at Marshfield, and in 1884 he matriculated at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. Between sessions he studied with another brother, Dr. George W. Williams, who had located at Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1883. The family has thus been well represented in the medical profession by able and successful physicians. Dr. Williams was graduated from the Missouri Medical College in the class of 1886, his private studies having given him the equivalent of a three years' course. Soon after his graduation and in the same year he came to Pittsburg and began practicing with his brother, Dr. G. W., and has lived here ever since. He has been unusually successful, and his general practice extends throughout the county. His name is a household word in many a home, where his genial sympathy and kindly good nature are often as soothing and healing to sufferers as the professional counsel which he knows how to give so skillfully.

Dr. Williams is a member of the Southeast Kansas Medical Society, the Kansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is president of the Pittsburg Drug Company, which was established in June, 1898, and is one of the successful business enterprises of the city. He served one term as alderman from the fourth ward, for four years was one the board of pension examiners, and for three different terms was county physician. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order.

Dr. Williams was married in Missouri in 1888 to Miss Josie Thompson, and they have two daughters, Olga and Wilma.