San Francisco County
Biographies
ERNEST E.
WILLIAMS
By profession an attorney, Ernest E. Williams is now occupying the important position of United States commissioner, with offices at 215 Post Office building in San Francisco, and is widely recognized as one of the most progressive and talented citizens of the bay region. He was born in Denver, Colorado, March 3, 1893, and is a son of Rees and Mary (Elias) Williams.
Rees Williams, who is now living in retirement in Oakland, California, was born in the country of Wales, and was there reared and educated. He emigrated to the United States about 1886, and first settled in New York, later went to Kansas, then Colorado, and in 1905 came to California. He first lived in Watsonville in this state, afterward removed to San Jose, and now resides in Oakland. During his active career he engaged in contracting and building. He is a devout member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church. His wife, also a native of Wales, accompanied him to the United States. They became the parents of four children: William, who died in infancy; Esther, now deceased, who was the wife of Paul Lorentzen of the San Joaquin valley; Lillian, who is the wife of Charles Kletzker of Oakland; and the immediate subject of this review.
Ernest E. Williams attended the public schools of Denver, Colorado, of Watsonville, California, and of San Jose, California. He then took up his higher studies at Stanford University, which institution conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1917. His studies were delayed by his war service, but after the close of hostilities he returned to Stanford and completed the work for his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, which he received in 1920. He then became affiliated with the law firm of Jones & Boalt in San Jose, and on March 15, 1926, he was appointed assistant United States attorney in San Francisco. He served meritoriously in this office until May 6, 1926, and was then appointed United States commissioner, which is his present position.
Mr. Williams has been a valuable and active worker in the ranks of the republican party. He was president of the Stanford Republican Committee in his last year at the university, during the presidential campaign. He was chairman of the Republican War Veterans of Santa Clara county in 1924, and in 1928 he was secretary of the Republican War Veterans of Northern California.
When the United States entered the World war, Mr. Williams enlisted as a cadet in the air service. During his service, he was stationed at Berkeley ground school, at Rockwell field, and at Mather field. He received his honorable discharge December 11, 1918. He is now a lieutenant, senior grade, in the United States Naval Reserve, and is a member of the Reserve Officers’ Association, also the C. C. Thomas Post of the American Legion in San Francisco. He belongs to Chateau Thierry Lodge, No. 569, of the Masons in Oakland, and is past patron of Mary E. Partridge Chapter, No. 308, of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a member and watchman of the Sheperds of Nazarene Shrine, No. 2, of the Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem; and he also belongs to the legal fraternity Phi Alpha Delta and to the Delta Sigma Rho, a debating and oratorical society. His religious connection is with the Methodist church. Mr. Williams’ favorite recreations are reading, fishing and hiking. His residence is at San Jose, California. Mr. Williams has attained his success solely through his own efforts, and the quality of his work and the ability he has manifested are well shown by the important office which he now holds.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 376-378.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN
FRANCISCO BIOGRAPIES