Member Biography
William McKnight Williamson
Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 29-30.
| Sessions | Office | Position | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889-1890 | 33 | Republican | ||
| 1891-1892 | 33 | Republican |
COUNTIES: Franklin, Huntingdon
Biography
06/29/1840 - 04/19/1901
William McKnight Williamson (R33) Franklin and Huntingdon Counties 1889-1892
Early Life:
William McKnight Williamson, born June 29, 1840, Academia, Juniata County, Pennsylvania; son of Reverend McKnight and Jane Woods Williamson; educated, Milnwood Academy, Shade Gap, Pennsylvania; teacher, principal, Milnwood Academy, Shade Gap, three years; admitted, Juniata bar, 1865; attorney, private practice; appointed, prothonotary, Huntingdon County; 1877, elected, 1881; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate 1889-1892; president judge, Twentieth Judicial District of Huntingdon Pennsylvania, 1895-1896; married, Rachel Sipes Williamson, six children; died, April 19,1901 at the home of his son Captain George Williamson, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Riverview Cemetery, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.
Early Career:
Law practice, partner, brother-in-law, W. H. Woods, Esquire, Woods & Williamson.
Pennsylvania Politics:
Appointment, Governor John Frederick Hartranft, prothonotary, Huntingdon County; 1877, elected, 1881.
Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 33rd district, Franklin and Huntingdon Counties 1889-1892, member, Canal and Island Navigation, Centennial Affairs, Congressional Apportionment, Judiciary Special, Public Health and Sanitation, Mines and Mining, New Counties and County Seats and Retrenchment and Reform Committees.
President Judge, Twentieth Judicial District of Huntingdon Pennsylvania, 1895-1896.
Legacy:
Children: George McKnight, lieutenant, 8th United States Cavalry; William W., mining stockbroker, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Frances Laughlin, Richard Woods Williamson, law partner in his father's law business, Mary L., John S.
Son, Richard Woods Williamson, Pennsylvania State Senate, 30th district, Blair and Huntingdon Counties, 1927-1934.
Richard Woods Williamson - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)
Cousin of Pennsylvania State Senator Joseph M. Woods, 31st senate district, 1889-1896, later, President Judge, Mifflin County.
Cited:
Cox, Harold. "Senate Members W". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1890). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 697, 702-704, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 670.
Altoona Tribune (Altoona, Pennsylvania) Saturday April 20, 1901, Page 1.
William McKnight Williamson (1840-1901) - Find a Grave Memorial