Williams was a friend of William Jennings Bryan. Because of their friendship, Bryan made a whistle-stop visit to Carmi in 1896 to give a presidential campaign speech.
In 1902, the Chicago Chronicle said he was being groomed for president. "Bob Williams for President" headlined the Chicago Evening Post on November 9, 1903. In 1903, Illinois Democrats nominated Williams for the United States Senate. He did not win but received a letter from Williams Jennings Bryan, who expressed an interest in talking with him about plans for 1904. In 1904, his name was presented to the National Convention at St. Louis, Missouri, as a candidate for vice-president. Williams came in second place for the Democratic vice presidential nomination.
In 1904, Williams was defeated in his bid for reelection by Pleasant T. Chapman. After his term in the House of Representatives, he resumed the practice of his profession. He died in Loma Linda, California on November 8, 1923. He was interred in Maple Ridge Cemetery, Carmi, Illinois.
^Psi, Phi Kappa (1910). Grand Catalogue of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity: February 1, 1910. Chicago, Illinois. p. 149. Williams, James R.
^"S. Doc. 58-1 - Fifty-eighth Congress. (Extraordinary session -- beginning November 9, 1903.) Official Congressional Directory for the use of the United States Congress. Compiled under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing by A.J. Halford. Special edition. Corrections made to November 5, 1903". GovInfo.gov. U.S. Government Printing Office. 9 November 1903. p. 26. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
james, williams, politician, judge, james, williams, lawyer, james, robert, williams, december, 1850, november, 1923, representative, from, illinois, james, robert, williamsmember, theu, house, representativesfrom, illinoisin, office, december, 1889, march, 18. For the judge see James R Williams lawyer James Robert Williams December 27 1850 November 8 1923 was a U S Representative from Illinois James Robert WilliamsMember of theU S House of Representativesfrom IllinoisIn office December 2 1889 March 3 1895Preceded byRichard W TownshendSucceeded byBenson WoodConstituency19th districtIn office March 4 1899 March 3 1903Preceded byJames R CampbellSucceeded byHenry T RaineyConstituency20th districtIn office March 4 1903 March 3 1905Preceded byDistrict createdSucceeded byPleasant T ChapmanConstituency24th districtPersonal detailsBorn 1850 12 27 December 27 1850Carmi Illinois United StatesDiedNovember 8 1923 1923 11 08 aged 72 Loma Linda California United StatesResting placeMaple Ridge Cemetery Carmi Illinois United StatesPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materUnion College of LawBorn in Carmi Illinois Williams attended the common schools He graduated from Indiana University in 1875 where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi 1 and from the Union College of Law Chicago Illinois in 1876 He was admitted to the bar in 1876 and returned home to practice in Carmi He served as master in chancery from 1880 1882 and was a county judge of White County from 1882 1886 Williams was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty first Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard W Townshend He was reelected to the Fifty second and Fifty third Congresses and served from December 2 1889 to March 3 1895 Williams was a friend of William Jennings Bryan Because of their friendship Bryan made a whistle stop visit to Carmi in 1896 to give a presidential campaign speech Williams was elected to the Fifty sixth Fifty seventh and Fifty eighth Congresses March 4 1899 March 3 1905 2 In 1902 the Chicago Chronicle said he was being groomed for president Bob Williams for President headlined the Chicago Evening Post on November 9 1903 In 1903 Illinois Democrats nominated Williams for the United States Senate He did not win but received a letter from Williams Jennings Bryan who expressed an interest in talking with him about plans for 1904 In 1904 his name was presented to the National Convention at St Louis Missouri as a candidate for vice president Williams came in second place for the Democratic vice presidential nomination In 1904 Williams was defeated in his bid for reelection by Pleasant T Chapman After his term in the House of Representatives he resumed the practice of his profession He died in Loma Linda California on November 8 1923 He was interred in Maple Ridge Cemetery Carmi Illinois References editUnited States Congress James R Williams id W000508 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Attribution nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from James Robert Williams PDF Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Notes edit Psi Phi Kappa 1910 Grand Catalogue of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity February 1 1910 Chicago Illinois p 149 Williams James R S Doc 58 1 Fifty eighth Congress Extraordinary session beginning November 9 1903 Official Congressional Directory for the use of the United States Congress Compiled under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing by A J Halford Special edition Corrections made to November 5 1903 GovInfo gov U S Government Printing Office 9 November 1903 p 26 Retrieved 2 July 2023 U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byRichard W Townshend Member of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 19th congressional districtDecember 2 1889 March 3 1895 Succeeded byBenson WoodPreceded byJames R Campbell Member of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 20th congressional districtMarch 4 1899 March 3 1903 Succeeded byHenry T RaineyPreceded byDistrict created Member of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 24th congressional districtMarch 4 1903 March 3 1905 Succeeded byPleasant T Chapman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James R Williams politician amp oldid 1180698213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
