WI BIO - Columbia Co - WILLIAMS, William E. 

Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
Wisconsin. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, pp 584-585 

William E. WILLIAMS, a well known and successful physician at Cambria, was 
born 23 August 1859 in the Village of Cambria, Columbia County, Wisconsin, a 
son of John Lloyd and Elizabeth (EVANS) WILLIAMS. The paternal WILLIAMS 
[John Lloyd WILLIAMS] was born at Trefriw, Caernarvonshire, Wales. He read 
medicine in Llanrwst, and also attended lectures in Glasgow, Scotland, where 
he received license to practice. In 1847 he [Dr. John Lloyd WILLIAMS] came 
to this country, and taught the first school in Springvale, Columbia County, 
Wisconsin, in a "dugout." The same year he began to practice medicine at 
Cambria, when only three persons were living in the village. The county 
rapidly filled up, and Cambria soon became the center of quite a numerous and 
thrifty population, and here the remaining years allotted to him were spent.

After a time he [Dr. John Lloyd WILLIAMS] took a course of lectures at Rush 
Medical College, in Chicago [Cook County, Illinois], from which he received a 
diploma in 1863. He continued to practice in Cambria until his death in 
September 1888, when over sixty-three years of age. He was a surgeon and 
physician of high repute, and acquired a wide acquaintance. He was called 
upon to fill some local positions of trust and honor, but was never a 
politician. During the Civil War he [Dr. John Lloyd WILLIAMS] tendered his 
services to the U. S. hospital department, and was sent to Vicksburg, 
Mississippi, where he was put in charge of the various hospitals on the post, 
and continued in that important position for four months.

His [Dr. John Lloyd WILLIAMS'] parents were William and Jane (OWENS) 
WILLIAMS, who started for the United States in 1847. The voyage lasted ten 
weeks, and the elder Mr. WILLIAMS [William WILLIAMS] died of fever on the 
way. Mrs. [Jane] WILLIAMS died in the town of Springvale [probably 
Springvale in Columbia County, not Springvale in Fond du Lac County, 
Wisconsin] a few months later [1847?], leaving three sons and two daughters. 
Mrs. Louis LLOYD is her only surviving child; she lives in Cambria.

Mrs. John Lloyd WILLIAMS [Elizabeth nee EVANS] lived until 1894, when she was 
in her sixty-fourth year. She was born in Caernarvonshire, where her father, 
Robert EVANS, was accidentally killed in a slate quarry. His [Robert's] 
widow, Mrs. Mary EVANS, came to the United States and died in Cambria 
[Columbia County, Wisconsin], at the age of seventy-four years.

Dr. William E. WILLIAMS has always lived in Cambria [Columbia County, 
Wisconsin] and his early days were spent in the public school. When he was 
eighteen he went into his father's [Dr. John Lloyd WILLIAMS'] office to read 
medicine, and at once proved himself a bright student. When he was twenty he 
attended lectures for a year at Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis [St. 
Louis County, Missouri]. He transferred himself to Rush Medical College, at 
Chicago [Cook County, Illinois], and was graduated from the latter 
institution in 1882. He preferred his old home and friends to any other spot 
where he would make his life work, and came back to Cambria. About fifteen 
years ago he bought a drug store, and managed it himself for some years. In 
1895 he sold an interest in it, and now gives his personal attention entirely 
to his profession. 

In 1887 Dr. [William E.] WILLIAMS was married to June B. SMITH, a daughter of 
Robert and Mary SMITH, of Leon [Monroe County], Wisconsin. She [June B. 
SMITH] was born in Monroe County, Wisconsin, and is a lady of many attractive 
qualities. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic order, and stands high in 
its various organizations. He belongs to the Wisconsin State Medical 
Society, and is widely known as a gentleman of character and a physician of 
ability. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly