Nelson Williams

As printed in 1894

NELSON WILLIAMS, one of the foremost and most able members of the Bar of Butler County, resides in Hamilton. His native endowments and broad culture have admirably qualified him for the successful practice of his chosen profession. From the time he began his legal readings until the present he has steadily progressed m the study of law, and has attained the distinction of being one of the safest and soundest counselors of the Hamilton Bar. In addition to his general practice, he accepted in 1882 the position of attorney for the Provident Life and Trust Company, of Philadelphia, and since 1887 he has had full charge of their legal business in Ohio.

George and Margaret (McKinlejO Williams, the parents of our subject, were born in Ohio, and were here married. The father, who for many years was the proprietor of a sawmill and mercantile establishment, removed from the Buckeye State to Nebraska, after which he spent two years in Whitley County, Ind. About 1882 he came to Hamilton, where he is now agent for the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. During the late war he entered the army for the one hundred days’ service, and at the expiration of that time was honorably discharged. With his wife, he holds membership in the Universalist Church.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, William Williams, spent his entire life as a miller of the soil, and at an advanced age died near St.

Paris, Ohio. Our subject’s maternal grandfather, William McKinley, also a farmer by occupation, was a resident of Champaign County, Ohio, where he died in the prime of manhood.

The family of which our subject is a member consisted of six children, of whom five are living, namely: Nelson, who was born in St. Paris, Champaign County, Ohio, March 23, 1853; Alice, wife of Eli Waer; Sherman; Lillie, who married Rev. H. M. Egolf, of Bloomfield, Ind.; and William S. The deceased sister was named Emma. Nelson was reared in Champaign County until thirteen years old, when he accompanied his parents to Conover, Miami County. There he attended a graded school, after which he engaged in teaching for a period of three mars. It had been his ambition to become an attorney, and in the pursuit of this desire he came to Hamilton in March, of 1874, and began the study of law in the office of Israel Williams. Admitted to the Bar in April, 1876, he remained with his former preceptor until 1881, when, in July, he began practicing alone, and has since carried on a large practice in the various courts of this city and county.

The marriage of Mr. Williams, October 21, 1880, united him with a lady of culture and refinement, who is an active member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, and with her husband stands high in the best circles of the city. She was Miss Susannah Mallory, daughter of Dr. Henry and Ann M. (Rider) Mallory, of this city. Socially Mr. Williams is identified with hut one secret order — that of Freemasonry. He became a member of this order in 1886, and within a year held membership in all York Rite bodies. He soon became proficient in the esoteric work of Symbolic Freemasonry, and was elected and served two years as Worshipful Master of Washington Lodge No. 17, F. & A. M., of Hamilton. While occupying this office, he was appointed Assistant to the District Lecturer, and for the last two years he has been the District Lecturer of the Second Lecture District of the state. In Capitular, Cryptic and Chivalric Freema.sorry he has been no less active. He is the present High Priest of Hamilton Chapter No. 21, R. A. M., and the present Thrice Illustrious Master of Hamilton Council No. 19,

R. & S. M. He is also Generalissimo of Hamilton Commandery No. 41, K. T., and at the coming election will undoubtedly be elected Eminent Commander. He is the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, and is the Conductor in the State Council of High Priests. He is also a member of Dayton Valley and Ohio Consistories of the A. and A. Scottish Rite, and of Syrian Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Cincinnati, in which latter order he has recently won much distinction as the author of “The Daughters of the Nile.”

As a Republican. Mr. Williams is actively connected with the public affairs of the city and county. For several years he has been Executive Committeeman of the Ohio Republican League, and is one of the Managing Directors and Secretary of the Republican Publishing Company. He is a man of versatile ability, and while excelling as a lawyer has also gained a wide reputation as a poet. His writings have been extensively copied by the press, and are of the rhythmic and mellifluous character that is universally admired. In this connection we are pleased to present to our readers the following poem written by Mr. Williams:

The Poetry of Masonry.

The poetry of Masonry, like some sweet scented flower,

Spreads fragrance over all that grows within its sacred bower.

The lily may most perfect be, and so the blushing rose;

The honeysuckle beautify the spot wherein it grows.

The violet may raise its head toward a friendly sky,

And apple blossoms may appease the cravings of the eye;

But what would all these (lowers be to either you or me,

If they did not sweet fragrance shed to all humanity ?

Our landmarks may remain unchanged through all the years to come,

Our lights and jewels be displayed as in the years gone;

The emblems we delineate on Master’s carpets here

May still remain when each of us has left this earthly sphere.

The symbols of our noble craft, so beautiful to see,

May please the eye of brethren who shall follow 3’ou and me;

But none will ever comprehend the lessons they i m part,

Until they learn the poetry of Masonry by heart.

The poetry of Masonry is that which beautifies

And brings to clearer view the truths our emblems symbolize.

It is not always found in rhyme nor yet in metered prose;

It sometimes happens that a word its beauty may disclose.

Our one great light, which shines so bright upon our altars here,

Our lambskin aprons pure and white, to every Mason dear,

Our letter G, which all may see above the Master’s chair,

All tell in sweetest poetry of God’s protecting care.

The poetry of Masonry is that true harmony

Which should prevail amongst the craft where’er dispersed they be.

It looks beyond the words and forms to something grander still;

It fills the heart with charity and brotherly good will.

It is that halo which surrounds a noble work well done,

Which takes our choicest sentiments and blends them into one;

That one the grandest, most sublime, the trust of the true:

Do unto others as you would that they should do to you.

As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.