Norman Williams (politician)

Norman Williams (October 6, 1791 – January 12, 1868) was a Vermont attorney and politician. He served as Vermont's Auditor of Accounts and Secretary of State.

Norman Williams, Vermont Auditor and Secretary of State
Norman William's signature, 01/1855

Early life

Williams was born October 6, 1791, in Woodstock, Vermont, son of Jesse Willams (1761-1842) and Hannah Palmer (1769-1837) and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1810. He then studied law, attained admission to the bar in 1814 and established a practice in Woodstock.[1] Williams served in the War of 1812 and afterwards continued his military service as a member of the militia.[2] Following his military service Williams resumed practicing law.[3]

Politics

Williams served as Register of Probate for the Hartford district in 1814 and from 1820 to 1822 and 1834 to 1835.[3] In 1819 Williams was elected Auditor of Accounts, serving until 1823.[4] Williams was elected Secretary of State in 1823 and served until 1831.[5] From 1836 to 1840 Williams was Secretary of the Vermont Senate.[6] Originally a National Republican, and later a Whig, Williams was an editor of the Vermont Mercury, a newspaper that advocated Whig policies.[7] Williams succeeded Benjamin Swan as Clerk of the Windsor County Court, and served from 1839 until his death in Woodstock.[8][9]

Business career

From 1831 to 1834 Williams lived in Montreal and pursued a business career with his brother in law. In 1834 Williams returned to Woodstock and resumed practicing law.[10]

College administrator

Williams was an incorporator of the Vermont Medical College and served for many years as dean of the faculty. In addition, he served as a member of the University of Vermont's Board of Trustees from 1849 to 1853.[11]

Personal life

In 1817, Williams married Mary Ann Wentworth Brown, a member of the Appleton and Wentworth families. They had seven children, Henry Brown Williams, Mary Ann Wentworth Williams, Edward H. Williams, Charles Storrow Williams, Louisa Jane Williams, Norman Williams Jr., and Susan Arnold Williams.[8]

In 1883, Edward H. Williams led an effort to remove from the Williams homestead the main house and surrounding outbuildings, which had fallen into disuse, and erect a library. The facility, named the Norman Williams Public Library, is still in existence and continues to serve the citizens of Woodstock.[12][13]

References
  1. History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana, 1889, page 475
  2. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, published by J.T. White and Company, New York, 1967, page 22
  3. University of Vermont Obituary Record, published by University of Vermont Alumni Association, Volume 1, 1895, page 25
  4. Early History of Vermont, by Lafayette Wilbur, Volume 3, 1902, page 381
  5. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1892
  6. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1953, page 320
  7. Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, Volume 1, 1881, page 50
  8. The Wentworth Genealogy, by John Wentworth, Volume 1, 1878, page 512
  9. Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, compiled and edited by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, page 359
  10. History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana, 1889, page 475
  11. Field Genealogy: Being the Record of all the Field Family in America, by Frederick Clifton Pierce, 1901, pages 201 to 202
  12. Biennial Report of the Board of Library Commissioners of Vermont, by Vermont Board of Library Commissioners, Volumes 1-6, 1896, page 63
  13. Home page, Norman Williams Public Library web site, accessed November 19, 2011
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