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PICTORIAL & BIOGRAPHICAL
HISTORY OF
INDIANAPOLIS & MARION CO.,
INDIANA
Published:
Chicago
Goodspeed Brothers, Publishers,
1893
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GOV.
JAMES D. WILLIAMS, or more popularly known as "Blue-Jeans"
Williams, represented the old type of the true
gentleman. He was not gifted with the polish that
comes of the old type of the true gentleman. He was
not gifted with the polish that comes of a finished
education, or that is usual in the case of public men.
A Democrat of the Jeffersonian school in all that the term
implies, a man of remarkable force of character, simple and
unostentatious in his intercourse with his fellowmen, honest
as the day was long, it is no wonder that "Blue-Jeans"
Williams obtained a stronghold upon the hearts of the
masses. He was born Jan. 16, 1808, in Pickaway County,
Ohio, moved with his parents to Knox County, Ind., when ten
years old, was reared to hard work on the home farm, and was
taught to believe that it was far better to be able to boast
of his skill in plowing, clearing, splitting rails, swinging
the cradle and the like, than it was to boast of his
education. As a consequence his schooling was of a
very meager character; but what he lacked in this respect
was modified to a considerable extent by desultory readings,
and in his intercourse with men of learning. When
twenty years old his father died, and the care of the family
devolved upon him, and three years later occurred his
marriage with Nancy Huffman. When thirty one
years of age he began his public career by becoming a
justice of the peace, but in 1843 resigned and was elected
to the State Legislature. From 1843 to 1874 Mr.
Williams was almost continually in the Legislature of
the State, either as Representative or Senator. In the
year last mentioned he was elected to represent his district
in Congress, was made chairman of the committee on accounts
of the House, and while not making a brilliant record in his
one term as Congressman, he gave a thoroughly able and
honest representatives. In 1876, much to his surprise,
he became the nominee of the Democracy of the State for the
Governorship of Indiana. It was in this campaign that
his opponents made sport of his homespun clothes and plain
appearance, and obtained for him the sobriquet of
"Blue-Jeans." It was one of the most remarkable
campaigns of this most remarkable country, and is comparable
to the "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and the
Lincoln-Douglas elections. Mr. Williams was
elected by over 5,000 votes over Gen. Benjamin Harrison,
ex-President of the United States, and served four years.
Source: Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs - Indianapolis
and Marion County, Indiana - Publ. Chicago - Goodspeed
Brothers, Publishers - 1893 - Page 98 |
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