U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Williamson, James Madison (1858-1925) --------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia Blue Book West Virginia Legislative Hand Book and Manual and Official Register, 1918 Compiled and edited by John T. Harris, Clerk of the Senate The Tribune Printing Company, Charleston, West Virginia Pages 739-740, State Board of Control. Dr. J. M. WILLIAMSON (Democrat) is a native of Washington county, Ohio and a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestors. He is the third son of Captain J. W. Williamson, a pioneer steamboat captain and pilot of the upper and lower Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Dr. Williamson was reared in West Virginia and his education in the common schools of this State and the high schools of Ohio. In 1881-2 he prepared himself for his chosen profession—that of dental surgery—and in 1883 opened an office in New Matamoras, Ohio, the place of his birth. In 1894 he removed to West Virginia, locating in Moundsville. There he built and furnished an office with the most modern equipments available for the prosecution of his profession. After his appointment to his present position, Dr. Williamson was succeeded in his profession and business by his son, Dr. C. D. Williamson, who now has charge of the large practice. In the year 1907 Dr. J. M. Williamson was elected Mayor of the city of Moundsville on a straight Democratic ticket, and it was his distinction to be the first and only person ever elected to the mayoralty of that city as a Democrat, on a strictly party ticket. He succeeded himself for three consecutive terms of two years each. When he took charge of affairs, he found the city financially embarrassed, with heavy damage suits pending. Under his management and through his foresight, these damage suits were won for the city. He also found the finances in bad condition, with no funds on hand to meet demands and the city practically without credit. City street orders were selling for fifty cents on the dollar. There was also passed down to him as Mayor a legacy in the form of a floating city order debt of $52,000.00, that had been contracted when the city had licensed saloons and boasted of the same as a source of revenue. Under a strictly "dry" rule——the lid being on tight——these financial conditions had to be met. At the end of Mayor Williamson’s third term, with no saloon license taxes, the floating order debt had been reduced to $6,000, and not a dollar of new floating order debt created. The city made rapid improvements during his three terms of office. During his incumbency as Mayor of Moundsville, Dr. Williamson headed a movement for a bond issue for a separate system of sanitary sewerage and surface draining. The bond issue carried by nearly five to one, an the city sewerage was completed. It can be said that no city in the State has a better and more up-to-date sanitary system than the city of Moundsville, consisting of more than twenty-nine miles. It is said that this was the largest contract ever let at one time in this State. At the same time the city of Moundsville enjoyed the distinction of being the first city in the State to install an auto fire truck, consisting of hose, ladder and chemical combination. On the 6th day of February, 1914, Dr. Williamson was appointed by Governor Henry D. Hatfield as the minority member of the State Board of Control and served as auditor of the board. Upon the reorganization of the board July 1, 1917, he was elected as its treasurer. Dr. Williamson is an enthusiastic horticulturist, and has great faith in the Upper Ohio Panhandle of West Virginia as a fruit growing section. He owns and is now having operated, by the most modern methods, the largest commercial apple orchard in that section of the State. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH-CERTIFICATE, Marshall County, WV, #13413 Full-name: James Madison Williamson Birth: Nov 30, 1858 in Ohio Death: Oct 7, 1925 in Moundsville, Marshall County, WV Marital-status: married Profession: Retired Dentist Father: James Williamson, born in WV Mother: Mary J. Massey, born in WV Informant: Mrs. J. M. Williamson of Moundsville Cause-of-death: Acute Indigestion, Chronic Myocarditis Burial: Mt. Rose ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Marshall County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/marshall/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------