Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on August 28, 1806, Williams attended the common schools of his community and graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1825. In 1828, he was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and began practicing law in Greensburg.[1]
Williams served in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1838 to 1841,[2] then returned to private practice. During the American Civil War, Williams returned to public office, this time becoming a United States representative, a position he held from March 4, 1863 to March 4, 1869.