Edward
H. Williams, chief engineer of the city water-works, Sacramento, is a native of
Essex County, New York, born December 19, 1830, his parents being Elijah and
Phebe (Greeley) Williams. His father was born in Sudbury, Vermont, and was a
vessel-owner, having three schooners in the Lake Champlain trade. His mother
was a native of New York State, and a cousin of Horace Greeley. E. H. Williams
was reared in his native place, and as a boy followed boating a great deal on
Lake Champlain after his eighteenth birthday, giving especial attention to
machinery. A schoolmate of Mr. Williams, name George T. Newell, had come to
California in 1851, and he returned with splendid accounts of the country, his
description creating great interest and excitement. In 1852 he went out again,
and Mr. Williams accompanied him. They proceeded in the Empire City to Havana,
thence to Navy Bay on the same steamer. On the Pacific side they took the
steamer Tennessee, and arrived at San Francisco May 10, 1852. On the next day
he started for Placer County, and arriving there, went to prospecting at Yankee
Jim’s. Not being successful, he left after one month, and went to Big Bar, on
the Middle Fork of the American River, and got a situation at mining work with
Livermore, at $100 per month and board. He worked there about four months, then
found a claim that looked favorable in Todd’s Valley, and went there to work
it. During that winter (1852-1853) water in the river was very high, and
provisions were scarce and expensive, flour going for $1 a pound. In March,
1853, he left there and went to Negro Bar, below Folsom, and engaged in mining.
They were there building the North Fork Canal to Mississippi Bar for mining
purposes, and, in connection with two other men, Mr. Williams took a contract
to dig three miles of the ditch. When that job was completed he gave up mining
work, and opened a book and sign store at Folsom. A year later he went into the business of manufacturing soda,
ale, porter, and Oregon cider. His next employment was that of running a
stationary engine in the machine shops of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, at
Folsom. He remained with the company until his health failed him, sometimes in
the shops, sometimes on the road. He then went to Lake Tahoe, and finding that
a steamer had been sunk there the year before by the parties who ran her, he
raised the steamer and ran it that summer. He was also at Forest Hill, Placer
County, and while there quite an excitement arose in regard to blue cement mining,
and five mills were soon in operation. It becoming known that Mr. Williams was
acquainted with machinery, he was at once offered the charge of on of the
mills, which he accepted. He remained with the company two years. Then they
went under, and he was out $400. He remained on the Divide about six months,
but things becoming dull, he came down to Sacramento and went to work for the
Central Pacific Railroad in the round-house. Seven years later he was sent to
Paterson, New Jersey, for two locomotives, but while he was there the
boiler-makers went on strike, and the boilers for the locomotives could not be
turned out. Mr. Huntington then sent him back to Sacramento. A couple of months
after his return the paid fire commissioners requested him to take charge of
the Tenth street engine, which he did, and so continued for six years. He was
employed in the Central Pacific machine shops for eight months, then became
connected with the water-works. In 1886 he was appointed chief engineer, and
has since held that position, with great satisfaction to all interested in the
efficiency of the water-works machinery. Mr. Williams was married in March,
1858, to Miss Mattie Hartsough, a native of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, who
came across the plains with her parents in 1854. They have five children, viz.:
William B., of Los Angeles; Carrie,
Charles, Harry and Everett. Mr.
Williams is a member of Sacramento Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F. He joined
the order at Essex, New Jersey, in 1851, and is a veteran Odd Fellow; is a member
of the order of Chosen Friends. The water-works machinery has been very
efficiently handled under Mr. Williams’ supervision, which has given great
satisfaction to citizens generally.
Transcribed
by: Marla Fitzsimmons
An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California.
By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 293-294.
© 2004 Marla Fitzsimmons.