California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


HENRY H. WILLIAMS.� An oil man widely experienced in every de- 
partment of the development and production of oil in this and in foreign countries 
is Henry H. Williams, who holds a responsible position in Coalinga and has 
become one of its prominent and influential citizens. He was born in Lagro, Wa- 
bash County, Ind., on February 10, 1877, the son of Charles A. Williams, a native 
of Indiana, of Welsh descent, who was a real estate man and died in the scene of 
his later activities. He had married Mahala Heaston, who was born in Indiana 
and now resides at Marion, in that state, the mother of three children, two girls 
and a boy, all of whom have grown up. The Williams family are traced back to 
Massachusetts, 1635; members of the family served in the Colonial and Revolu- 
tionary wars. 

Brought up in Indiana, Henry attended the public school at Marion, and 
when sixteen began work in the oil fields, commencing at the bottom round of 
the ladder. As a driller he was with the Standard Oil Company from the middle 
of his teens, until he was sent by them to Rumania, in 1903, at the beginning of 
their work there. He continued with them for four years, and in 1907 returned 
to Indiana. 

The following year he came out to California and Coalinga, and was em- 
ployed on Section 2 as a driller. At the end of the year, however, he went to 
Peru, South America, and worked as a driller at Negritos, for the London Pacific 
Petroleum Company, now owned by the Standard Oil Company. Partly through 
his expert work, they were fortunate in striking oil, and he remained there for 
two years. 

In 1911 he returned to Coalinga and entered the employ of the Canadian 
Coalinga Oil Company, where he was superintendent of drilling for about a year. 
In 1912 he resigned and again engaged as a driller for the Standard Oil Company, 
on Section 28; and after five years he was advanced to assistant superintendent 
of the producing department of Coalinga district which occupies all of his time 
and to the success of which he gives his best efforts. 

At Bucharest, Rumania, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Goldie Daugh- 
erty, a native of Pittsburg, Pa. The happy couple now have two children : Marita, 
who was born in Rumania, and Harry, who is a native son of the Golden West.