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Jeremiah Norman Williams

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Jeremiah Norman Williams
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Preceded byJames T. Rapier
Succeeded byHilary A. Herbert
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879
Preceded byTaul Bradford
Succeeded byWilliam J. Samford
Personal details
Born
Jeremiah Norman Williams

(1829-05-29)May 29, 1829
Louisville, Alabama
DiedMay 8, 1915(1915-05-08) (aged 85)
Clayton, Alabama
Political partyDemocratic

Jeremiah Norman Williams (May 29, 1829 – May 8, 1915) was a two-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Alabama. His election marked the return of Democratic control of the Alabama's 2nd congressional district, after Republican control during the earlier years of Reconstruction.

Biography

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Williams was born May 29, 1829, near Louisville, Alabama, to Judge Stith and Euphemia Williams. After attending the preparatory schools of Barbour County, he graduated from the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1852.

He studied law in Montgomery and Tuskegee and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He commenced practice in Clayton, Alabama.

Civil War service

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When the American Civil War broke out he volunteered for service in the Confederate States Army and was made captain of the Clayton Guards. He then became a major of the First Regiment, Alabama Infantry, before resigning due to illness. During the war he married Mary Eliza Screws. They had five children together.

Postbellum

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After the war Williams was elected a member of the Alabama House of Representatives in 1872, but was not allowed to take his seat.[citation needed] In 1874 he was elected as a Democrat to represent Alabama's 2nd congressional district in the 44th United States Congress. After redistricting, he won a second term representing Alabama's 3rd congressional district in the 45th United States Congress. Williams served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department in the Forty-fifth Congress. He served two full terms, from March 4, 1875, to March 3, 1879.

After leaving office he resumed his law practice in Clayton. He served as Chancellor of the third division of the chancery court from 1893 to 1899. In 1901 he served as member of the Alabama Constitutional Convention.

He died in Clayton on May 8, 1915, and was interred in the City Cemetery.

References

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  • United States Congress. "Jeremiah Norman Williams (id: W000512)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2009-04-20

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 2nd congressional district

March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 3rd congressional district

March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879
Succeeded by