His name was incorrectly listed as John Edward Williams in the 1885 Wisconsin Blue Book, and that error propagated to subsequent editions of the Blue Book, including recent historic lists of past legislators. A comparison of the biography of "John Edward Williams" from the 1885 Blue Book with the biographies of "Thomas Edward Williams" from History of Northern Wisconsin (1881) and History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska (1921) and the obituaries of "Thomas E. Williams" from 1931 clearly demonstrates that all of these biographies are describing the same person.
He moved to Aurora, Nebraska, in 1888.[2] There he bought a stake in the Farmers & Merchants Bank, and became cashier and manager of the bank. The bank was consolidated with the Hamilton County Bank in 1890, and Williams continued as cashier of the merged bank.[2] After another series of mergers, Williams became cashier of the First National Bank of Aurora, and then served as president of the bank from 1909 until he retired and sold his interest in 1917.[2]
At the start of the administration of Nebraska governorAdam McMullen, in 1925, Williams was appointed state tax commissioner, and served in that role until McMullen left office in 1929.[4]
After a period of poor health, Williams planned a trip to California to try to improve his condition. He died at Fontana, California, in January 1931.[4][5]
Personal life and family
Thomas Edward Williams was one of seven children born to George W. and Malinda (née Streeter) Williams. His parents came to the Wisconsin Territory from New York state in 1844, with their parents, and married after arriving in Wisconsin.[2]
Thomas Williams married twice. His first wife was Alida J. Kemp; they married on August 2, 1873, in Eau Claire. She died in June 1899. Williams subsequently married Susanna Eliza Sirwell of St. Louis, on December 21, 1904. His second wife died in 1929. He had no children.[4]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (1884)
Wisconsin Assembly, Eau Claire District Election, 1884[3]
