HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
p. 1178.       [Franklin County]

BENJAMIN GARDNER WILLIAMS--A strong and able lawyer and a leader among the
representatives of the legal profession of the capital city of Kentucky is
Benjamin Gardner Williams.  The possessor of unusual attainments and
capable of inspiring the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact
Mr. William has upon more than one occasion been recognized by the people
as the "Man of the Hour" and has fulfilled numerous important duties with
which he has been intrusted with signal success.  He is an unwavering
supporter of the principles of Democracy and has held several public
offices of importance, serving as county attorney from 1886 to 1890, and
as county judge for the terms including the years between 1890 and 1898.
In 1900, when the state of Kentucky became clothed with dark habiliments
of tragedy and mourning, Mr. Williams was chosen by the Goebel family to
assist in the prosecution of the assassins of Governor Goebel.
     Benjamin Gardner Williams was born in Morgan county, Kentucky, August
7, 1859, his eyes first opening to the light of day upon his father's farm.
His parents were Mason Holly Prather and Priscilla (Patrick) Williams,
both of them of North Carolina nativity and stock.  The paternal
grandfather, Mason Williams, was a Baptist preacher and farmer, who lived
and labored to bring to healthy fruition both Kentucky's fertile acres and
the souls of men, in what is now Magoffin county.  He came from North
Carolina at a very early day.  He became well known in that section of the
new state, and at different times was sheriff of Morgan county and
representative of the county in the state legislature.  He was of Scotch-
Irish descent and possessed in high degree the sturdy characteristics of
that stock.
     Mr. Williams' father and his brother Dial S. Williams, enlisted in the
Confederate army at the time of the Civil war, serving in the Fifth
Kentucky Infantry.  The latter was killed in June, 1864.  At the close of
the conflict the father returned to Morgan county and in 1865 sold his
farm and moved to Mason county, where he remained for about two years. In
March, 1867, he came to the capital city, Frankfort, and began keeping
hotel, a new vocation, which he pursued for a good many years.  He was
elected sheriff in 1876 and again in 1878, serving until 1880.  He was
subsequently appointed jailor to fill an unexpired term.  He died in
October, 1908, at the age of eighty-eight years, his birth having occurred
November 15, 1819.  His wife preceded him to the Great Beyond by a number
of years, her death having occurred in October, 1896, at the age of
seventy-six years.  The family consisted of the following eight children:
Dial S., Sarah Margaret, Mary J., Wiley C., Mason H.P. Jr., Rebecca, John
B. and Ben G.  In the matter of religious faith Mason Williams and his
wife belonged to the Christian church, as indeed did his entire family.
     Benjamin Gardner Williams was about eight years of age when his father
moved to Frankfort, and within the pleasant limits of the capital city he
has ever since resided.  He attended the public schools and later the
Kentucky Eclectic Institute, conducted by Mr. J. W. Dodd.  Being drawn by
natural inclinations to the legal profession he began to read law and
pursued a one year's course in law at the University of Virginia, being
licensed to practice in 1884.  He entered upon his active career almost
immediately, and in evidence of the speedy recognition he won in
professional circles in Frankfort is the fact that two years later,
in 1886, he was elected county attorney, in which capacity he served until
1890.  In the latter year he was elected county judge and was re-elected
in 1894, his second term expiring in January, 1898.  He then retired from
public life to devote his entire attention to his practice, which has
assumed large proportions, and is of an important character.
     In 1892 Mr. William was united in marriage to Miss Rose Whitworth, of
Louisville, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Howard) Whitworth.  Within the
walls of their home are growing to manhood and womanhood the following
eight children, by name Priscilla, Virginia, Rose, Ben G. Jr., Jane, John
Ann Howard and Ruth.  Mr. Williams belongs to the Christian church as is
affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Williams Patrick Whitworth Howard Dodd
=
Morgan-KY Magoffin-KY Mason-KY Louisville-Jefferson-KY VA NC

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/williams.bg.txt