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.
Biography[]
Norman 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, and 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 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.[6]
From 1836 to 1840 Williams was Secretary of the Vermont Senate.[7]
Originally a National Republican, and later a Whig, Williams was an editor of the Vermont Mercury, a newspaper that advocated Whig policies.[8]
Williams was an original 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.[9]
Williams succeeded Benjamin Swan as Clerk of the Windsor County Court, and served from 1839 until his death in Woodstock.[10][11]
In 1883 one of Williams' sons, 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[]
- ^ History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana, 1889, page 475
- ^ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, published by J.T. White and Company, New York, 1967, page 22
- ^ University of Vermont Obituary Record, published by University of Vermont Alumni Association, Volume 1, 1895, page 25
- ^ Early History of Vermont, by Lafayette Wilbur, Volume 3, 1902, page 381
- ^ Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1892
- ^ History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana, 1889, page 475
- ^ Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1953, page 320
- ^ Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, Volume 1, 1881, page 50
- ^ Field Genealogy: Being the Record of all the Field Family in America, by Frederick Clifton Pierce, 1901, pages 201 to 202
- ^ The Wentworth Genealogy, by John Wentworth, Volume 1, 1878, page 512
- ^ Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, compiled and edited by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, page 359
- ^ Biennial Report of the Board of Library Commissioners of Vermont, by Vermont Board of Library Commissioners, Volumes 1-6, 1896, page 63
- ^ Home page, Norman Williams Public Library web site, accessed November 19, 2011
- 1791 births
- 1868 deaths
- American military personnel of the War of 1812
- University of Vermont alumni
- Vermont National Republicans
- Vermont Whigs
- 19th-century American politicians
- State Auditors of Vermont
- Secretaries of State of Vermont
- Vermont lawyers
- People from Woodstock, Vermont