Abraham J. Williams
| Abraham J. Williams | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Governor of Missouri | |
|
In office August 4, 1825 – January 20, 1826 |
|
| Lieutenant | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Frederick Bates |
| Succeeded by | John Miller |
| Member of the Missouri Senate | |
|
In office 1822 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 26, 1781 Hardy County, Virginia |
| Died | December 30, 1839 (aged 58) Boone County, Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican, |
| Occupation | Merchant, farmer |
Abraham Jude Williams (February 26, 1781 – December 30, 1839) was an American politician from Boone County, Missouri. He was the third Governor of Missouri, serving an unelected interim term in 1825 and 1826 following the death of Frederick Bates.
Abraham J. Williams was born in Hardy County, Virginia to parents Vincent and Elizabeth Williams. Williams was born physically challenged, with one leg severely atrophied. Very little is known about his childhood or education, as even friends considered him a very private man. Abraham Williams arrived in the Missouri Territory sometime between 1816 and 1820 and settled in Franklin, Howard County, Missouri. At the time Franklin was a hotbed of political activity in the soon-to-be state, with many prominent men in early Missouri history residing there. In 1820 Williams moved a few miles away to Nashville, a small community in Boone County where he and business partner James Harris ran a tobacco warehouse.
Within a few years, Williams was on the move again, this time to Columbia, Missouri where he established one of the first dry goods stores in the town, also providing services as a boot and shoe maker. He also purchased a large tract of land in the county and began farming operations. In 1822 Abraham Williams was elected to the Missouri State Senate as a Democratic-Republican, beginning a brief foray into politics that would lead election as governor. When he was re-elected to the senate in 1824 his peer chose him as President-pro-tem. He also served on the Accounts and Education committees, both important positions in the newborn state, and on the committee responsible for planning the new Missouri state capitol building.
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