San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HERBERT E. WILLIAMSON
For over forty years a resident of
Stockton and closely identified with its business life, the late Herbert E.
Williamson was an active factor in the upbuilding of the city, aiding liberally
with his time and means movements for the benefit of the place and the welfare
of its people. One of the leading realty
men of Stockton during his lifetime, he was recognized as a man of excellent
judgment, keen intuition and broad information, and his judgment of property
values was considered authoritative.
Born at Pontiac, Michigan, March 25,
1851, Mr. Williamson came to California in his youth, and as a young man he
worked for the Matteson & Williamson Harvester Works, which was later
absorbed by the Holt Manufacturing Company.
His father, Truman P. Williamson, a pioneer of California of 1855, was
president and one of the founders of the company, and here he worked as
machinist in his father’s plant. On the
death of his father he assumed the management of the plant, continuing until it
was sold to the Holt Manufacturing Company.
Later he entered the real estate and brokerage business and soon became
an important factor in this field, so closely identified with the progress of
any community, and did much to promote the development of the Stockton of early
days to its present size and importance among California cities. He opened his office on South San Joaquin
Street, where the office building he erected still stands, and it was his
privilege to live to see the completion of the handsome pressed brick business
block, which he built on San Joaquin Street next to the Farmers and Merchants
Bank, and which added an improvement of great value to this district. A keen businessman, Mr. Williamson was very
successful in his investments in both city and country lands, and in his
passing away on December 17, 1917, Stockton lost one of its most dependable
citizens, and one who commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he
came in contact either in business or social life.
In San Jose in 1882, Mr. Williamson
was united in marriage with Miss Seleni Slaughter, a
native daughter of San Joaquin County, born near Morada,
and the only one living of the three children born to Joseph H. and Elizabeth (Speltz) Slaughter; the father, a native of Indiana, crossed
the plains in 1852, and settled on a ranch near Morada,
San Joaquin County, where he passed away many years ago. Mrs. Slaughter, who was born in Kentucky, was
early left an orphan and came to California via the Isthmus in 1856 with Mr.
and Mrs. John Ward, who located at Altaville when she met Mr. Slaughter. She was a prominent Methodist and organized
St. Paul’s Bible class. She died May 4,
1922. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson were the
parents of two children: Paul T., who
carries on the real estate business founded by his father, is a graduate of the
University of California and of Cornell, and a member of Theta Delta Chi. He married Miss Grace Ray and they have one
child, Ellis R.; Ruth, who with Mrs. Williamson resides at the family home, 548
North Sutter Street, Stockton, is a graduate of Miss Mason’s School at
Tarrytown-on-the-Hudson, New York.
During the World War she was deeply interested in Red Cross work, going
overseas as head of her unit, and was stationed at Paris, France, as a canteen
worker and later in charge of entertainment.
She returned home after the war but in 1922 made another extensive tour
of Continental Europe and Turkey. Mrs.
Williamson has traveled widely, visiting Honolulu and spending five months in
England and on the Continent. She is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Philomathean Club and a trustee
of the College of the Pacific. An
attendant of the Central Methodist Church for many years, Mr. Williamson was
prominently identified with the activities of that that congregation and for a
long period was a member of its official board.
He was an active worker in the Anti-Saloon League and contributed
generously to that cause. Always deeply
interested in the cause of education, he was one of the trustees of the College
of the Pacific, and in fraternal circles was a member of Charity Lodge No. 6,
I. O. O. F., of Stockton. Liberal and
charitable, his benefactions were many and Mrs. Williamson, since his death, has
continued his generous support to many worthy causes.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
552-555. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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