Benjamin Williams (Vermont politician) explained

Benjamin Williams
Order:58th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
Term Start:1931
Term End:1933
Governor:Stanley C. Wilson
Predecessor:Stanley C. Wilson
Successor:Charles M. Smith
Office2:Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
Term Start2:1929
Term End2:1931
Predecessor2:Loren R. Pierce
Successor2:Edward H. Deavitt
Office3:Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
Term Start3:1929
Term End3:1931
Predecessor3:Guy H. Boyce
Successor3:Guy H. Boyce
Constituency3:Proctor
Term Start4:1917
Term End4:1921
Predecessor4:Redfield Proctor Jr.
Successor4:Claude I. Hunter
Constituency4:Proctor
Birth Date:8 July 1876
Birth Place:Fair Haven, Vermont
Death Place:Proctor, Vermont
Party:Republican
Profession:Attorney
Banker
Businessman

Benjamin Williams (July 8, 1876  - February 11, 1957) was an American politician who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and the 58th lieutenant governor of Vermont.

Life and career

Williams was born in Fair Haven, Vermont on July 8, 1876. He graduated from Norwich University and was an attorney, executive of the Vermont Marble Company, and President of the Proctor Trust Company.[1] [2]

A Republican, Williams served as Proctor's Town Clerk from 1906 to 1918. From 1906 to 1908 he was Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs (chief assistant) to Governor Fletcher D. Proctor.[3] [4]

Williams served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1917 to 1921. In 1920 he was elected to the Vermont State Senate, and served one term.[5]

In 1928 he returned to the Vermont House, and was chosen to serve as Speaker.[6]

In 1930 Williams was elected Lieutenant Governor, serving from 1931 to 1933.[7]

Williams was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1934, losing the Republican nomination to Charles M. Smith.[8]

Williams died in Proctor on February 5, 1957.[9] He was buried in Fair Haven's West Street Cemetery.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont Legislative Directory, 1931, page 556
  2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xJErAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nXEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1253,654455&dq=benjamin-williams+norwich-university&hl=en The New London Day
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=x0kjAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22benjamin+williams%22+fair+haven+vermont&pg=PA109 Walter J. Bigelow
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=tTUtAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22benjamin+williams%22+secretary+civil+military+affairs&pg=PA15 Vermont general Assembly
  5. https://books.google.com/books?id=Le48AAAAIAAJ&q=%22benjamin+williams%22+%22norwich+university%22+vermont+lieutenant+governor Vermont Bar Association
  6. http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/Officials/pdf/speakersHouse.pdf Vermont Archives and Records Administration
  7. http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/Officials/pdf/ltgov.pdf Vermont Archives and Records Administration
  8. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19340912&id=9B1AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oqQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4235,4638487 Associated Press
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/1957/02/13/archives/benjamin-williams-banker-in-vermont.html New York Times
  10. Web site: Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for Benjamin Williams . Anderson . Esther J., Proctor (VT) Town Clerk . February 13, 1957 . Ancestry.com . Ancestry.com, LLC . Provo, UT . June 13, 2012 . subscription .