Los Angeles County
Biographies
GESNER
WILLIAMS
An important place in legal circles has been attained by Judge Gesner Williams, of Los Angeles, who has practiced his profession in that city for nearly a quarter of a century. He was born in 1867 at Gainesville, Ala., and received his early educational training in the public schools of that city. He later attended the Virginia Military Institute, of Lexington, graduating in 1888, then entered the University of Virginia and engaged in the study of law. The degree of LL. B. was conferred on him in 1890, and he was admitted to the Virginia and Alabama bars the same year.
In 1893 Judge Williams entered into partnership with W. E. Clark under the firm name of Clark & Williams, the association continuing for four years. In 1895 he was elected Mayor of Demopolis, Ala., for a period of two years, and he then served as City Attorney until 1903. He was also Attorney for the Southern Railroad from 1895 to 1903, and in 1898 served as Judge of the Circuit Court.
During his years of practice in Alabama, Judge Williams was identified with many important cases, including the suit which invalidated the oiled roads patents. In 1901 he served as a member of the Alabama Constitutional Convention.
In 1903 Judge Williams moved to Los Angeles and soon entered into partnership with Judge A. W. Hutton under the firm name of Hutton & Williams, but since 1915 he has practiced individually. He holds membership in the State Bar of California, Los Angeles County Bar Association and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Elks and Odd Fellows, as well as the Las Turas Country Club and other organizations. In 1892 he married Jennie Graydon Knox and they have one daughter, Graydon.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: "American Blue Book California Lawyers"
by H. James Boswell, Page 117, Produced by H. James Boswell,
1928.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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