Richard Williams

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_Williams, Richard, was born at Findlay, in the State of Ohio, November 15, 1836. His father, Elijah Williams, was then an attorney-at-law in that State, having a successful practice. His mother died when he was six years of age, leaving three sons, Richard, George (Major George Williams, a banker at Salem, and present Mayor of that city), and John, of whom Richard was the eldest. In 1851 his father, John was accidentally killed in crossing the plains, and the remaining part of the family reached the Willamette valley in the fall of 1851. They took up their residence at Salem, and continued to reside there, and in the vicinity, until the death of the mother. Richard attended school at the Willamette University until 1856, and acquired a good rudimentary education. After leaving school he started for the mines in Southern Oregon, but on his way there stopped at Corvallis., where A. J. Thayer, afterwards one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the State, was residing. Judge Thayer was a warm personal friend of Richard’s father and family, and he urged the young man to remain at Corvallis and read law with him, to which he assented, and in due time was admitted to practice. In 1862 Mr. Williams located at Salem to practice his profession, and in the latter part of that year married Miss Clara J. Congle, daughter of J. B. Congle, of Portland, a beautiful and highly accomplished lady.

In 1863 Mr. Williams formed a law partnership at Salem with Hon. Rufus Mallory, which continued until the latter was elected to Congress in 18966. He was clerk of the Supreme Court during the time, and until he removed from Salem. He was also appointed, under Mr. Lincoln’s administration, United States District Attorney for the district of Oregon.

In 1871 Mr. Williams formed a law partnership with W. Lair Hill and W. W. Thayer, present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, and in February of that year moved to the city of Portland to engage in the business, where he has since resided.

In 1874 Mr. Williams was nominated by the republican party as its candidate for Member of Congress, but owing to an unfortunate split in his party he failed to be returned. In 1876, however, he was again nominated for the office, and elected by a respectable majority over Hon. Lafayette Lane, candidate on the democratic ticket.

Mr. Williams made an able and faithful Member of Congress, and secured a high standing and added great credit to the State of Oregon by his efforts while there. Since returning from Congress Mr. Williams has devoted the principal part of his time to the practice of law, and but few attorneys at the bar have been so frequently employed in active litigation in the courts or achieved equal success. He is a good advocate, and is peculiarly adapted to the successful trial of jury causes. He is usually well prepared as to the law and facts involved in his case, and ready to meet any emergency which May arise in the course of the trial.

Mr. Williams has also been successful, financially. He has made such judicious investments in real estate that by reason of the thrift and prosperity which have attended the progress of the State, and especially the City of Portland, they have secured to him a competency. He is not, however, proud of his wealth, does not attempt to display it in order to gratify empty vanity or use it as a means of oppressing others. Nor does he bestow it for the purposes of gaining the plaudits of the public, yet he never fails to lend aid to those who are in distress. He has been known to advance liberal sums of money to assist obscure persons who were needy, and at the same time refuse to give anything towards a popular charity. He is reticent and slow to confide in others, but his confidence is free and open when once gained, and his friendships never waver. He enjoys the excitement of trading and making money, but no one can say that he ever falsified his word for personal gain, or committed a dishonorable act, nor would any person presume to question his integrity.

[Harvey Scott. History of Portland, Oregon with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers. Syracuse, New York : D. Mason & Co., 1890. pp. 641-642]