US Congressman. He was born as Thomas Benjamin Williams one of seven children (he also had three sisters and three brothers), to the Baptist preacher Reverend John Davis Williams and his wife Mary Johnson Williams in Richmond, Virginia. He moved to Alabama with his family when he was ten years old. He was educated in local common public schools and completed preparatory school studies before attending and graduating from the prestigious University of East Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1852 and relocated to Wetumpka, Alabama, where he commenced his practice of law. In 1858, he married Rebecca Evans Judkins and the couple would have seven children together (one girl and six boys). At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he put his political career and law career on hold to fight for his country. He served with the rank of Colonel in the Confederate States Army (or CSA) from 1861 to 1864. He then served as a Justice of the Peace, Register in Chancery, and was appointed to the post of Prison Inspector in 1872. He then entered politics and served as a Member of the Alabama State House of Representatives in 1878. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Member of the Democratic Party, he then served Alabama's 5th District (Forty-Sixth Congress, Forty-Seventh Congress, and Forty-Eighth Congress) in the United States House of Representatives from 1879 to 1885. After his term in the United States Congress expired on March 3, 1885, he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Thomas William Sadler. Following his term in the United States Congress, he engaged in the agricultural business and continued with his practice of law. In 1891, his plantation country home which sat on a vast land of more than 12,000 acres and was considered one of the largest and finest in the South was destroyed by fire and had to be rebuild. He passed away from complications of a stroke on April 13, 1903, at the age of 77, in Wetumpka, Alabama, and he was buried in the Wetumpka City Cemetery. His wife Rebecca passed away on July 29, 1917, at the age of 82, and she was buried beside her husband. One of his obituaries from the time said of him, "He was a man universally beloved and esteemed."
US Congressman. He was born as Thomas Benjamin Williams one of seven children (he also had three sisters and three brothers), to the Baptist preacher Reverend John Davis Williams and his wife Mary Johnson Williams in Richmond, Virginia. He moved to Alabama with his family when he was ten years old. He was educated in local common public schools and completed preparatory school studies before attending and graduating from the prestigious University of East Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1852 and relocated to Wetumpka, Alabama, where he commenced his practice of law. In 1858, he married Rebecca Evans Judkins and the couple would have seven children together (one girl and six boys). At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he put his political career and law career on hold to fight for his country. He served with the rank of Colonel in the Confederate States Army (or CSA) from 1861 to 1864. He then served as a Justice of the Peace, Register in Chancery, and was appointed to the post of Prison Inspector in 1872. He then entered politics and served as a Member of the Alabama State House of Representatives in 1878. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Member of the Democratic Party, he then served Alabama's 5th District (Forty-Sixth Congress, Forty-Seventh Congress, and Forty-Eighth Congress) in the United States House of Representatives from 1879 to 1885. After his term in the United States Congress expired on March 3, 1885, he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Thomas William Sadler. Following his term in the United States Congress, he engaged in the agricultural business and continued with his practice of law. In 1891, his plantation country home which sat on a vast land of more than 12,000 acres and was considered one of the largest and finest in the South was destroyed by fire and had to be rebuild. He passed away from complications of a stroke on April 13, 1903, at the age of 77, in Wetumpka, Alabama, and he was buried in the Wetumpka City Cemetery. His wife Rebecca passed away on July 29, 1917, at the age of 82, and she was buried beside her husband. One of his obituaries from the time said of him, "He was a man universally beloved and esteemed."
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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