Ohio History Journal

CHARLES RICHARD WILLIAMS. (326)

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CHARLES RICHARD WILLIAMS

 

BY LUCY ELLIOT KEELER

 

In all the generation of able men now passing, few

possessed the vitality and social charm, coupled with the

keen intellect, scholarly tastes and professional acumen

of the late Charles R. Williams. It had seemed incred-

ible that such bright, sparkling springs of life could ever

run dry. His death, on May 6, 1927, at his home in

Princeton, New Jersey, brought a sense of acute loss to

a very wide and devoted circle of friends and admirers.

The burial took place in Indianapolis.

Dr. Williams' connection with the Ohio State Arch-

aeological and Historical Society, was his work of editing

the sixty years of "The Diary and Letters of Rutherford

Birchard Hayes," published in five substantial volumes

by the Society, the final volume appearing only last year.

They were, moreover, supplemental to Dr. Williams'

two-volume "Life of President Hayes," which appeared

in 1914, and which Andrew D. White characterized as

one of the three or four best biographies in the English

Language. These seven volumes were issued by the So-

ciety as the "Hayes Series."

At several of the public occasions at the Spiegel

Grove State Park, in Fremont, Ohio, under the auspices

of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society

-- notably the Dedication of the Hayes Memorial Li-

brary and Museum, May 30, 1916, and the Centenary

Celebration of the Birth of President Hayes, October 4,

(327)

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328      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

1922 -- Dr. Williams was a principal speaker, his

scholarly and eloquent addresses being printed in the

publications of the Society. His subject on these occa-

sions was President Hayes, whose life, mind, character

and public service, through diaries, letters and collec-

tions, had been Dr. Williams' most intensive study, and

who had won his sincere admiration.

Dr. Williams was born in Prattsburgh, N. Y., April

16, 1853. He was a student in the University of Roches-

ter from 1871 until 1873, and then attended Princeton

University, where he received an A. B. degree in 1875

and his master's degree in 1878. He studied also in the

Universities of Gottingen and Leipzig.

In 1878-79 he was principal of the Auburn, (N. Y.),

High School and the next year became Latin tutor in

Princeton University. In 1881 he was appointed editor

of Potter's American Monthly, of Philadelphia, and

after a year in the editor's chair he left to become pro-

fessor of Greek in Lake Forest, (Ill.), University and

remained with the university until 1883.

After leaving Lake Forest University Mr. Williams

became literary editor of the New York World and in

the latter part of 1883 he became assistant general man-

ager of the Associated Press with headquarters at New

York. On October 2, 1884, he married Almira, daugh-

ter of William Henry Smith, head of the Associated

Press. Mrs. Williams died May 24, 1895. He con-

tinued with the Associated Press until May, 1892, when

he 'became editor-in-chief of the Indianapolis News,

being co-owner with his father-in-law. He occupied the

post of editor-in-chief of the News until April, 1911.

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Charles Richard Williams        329

 

On June 23, 1902, Mr. Williams married Bertha

Rose Knefler, of Indianapolis, who survives him.

In 1911, after nineteen arduous years of editorship,

during which time the Indianapolis News became one

of the great newspapers of the country, Mr. Williams

resigned to begin work on the Hayes papers, a task be-

queathed to him by William Henry Smith, Ohio's Sec-

retary of State under the distinguished War-Governor,

Brough, and Hayes' closest personal and political friend;

and for several years he passed much of his time at

Spiegel Grove, where the Hayes material had been col-

lected and scrupulously cared for.

In 1914, Mr. Williams removed to Princeton, New

Jersey, and later bought and remodeled the house in

Cleveland Lane, which had been occupied by Woodrow

Wilson while he was Governor of New Jersey, and from

which he went to the White House. There Mr. Wil-

liams led a life of busy leisure among his books in his

beautiful library, and in the pleasant society of a uni-

versity town; and there he wrote the "History of the

Cliosophic Society" of the University, the oldest literary

society in America, in commemoration of its 150th anni-

versary. He also gathered up his scattered poems into

a delightful volume. Honorary distinctions received by

Mr. Williams for his works, were the degree of doctor

of philosophy from Princeton University, an L. H. D.

degree from Wabash College, in 1893, and the LL. D.

degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and Kenyon

College.

A resolution adopted by the Indianapolis Literary

Society, shortly after his death, says, in part:

"We knew Mr. Williams as a man of letters, a de-

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330      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

vout classicist, a scholar and a man of the finest and

most sensitive literary taste. The curiosity of the Greek,

so highly praised by Matthew Arnold, and so unlike

what often today passes for such, was possessed by Mr.

Williams in high degree. It was in his case the curiosity

of the wise questioner of life, of one ever eager to extend

the bounds of his knowledge. There could be no better

proof than that afforded by his career of the value of

classical training and learning in the practical business

of living. He demonstrated in his own person that there

was no war between culture and efficiency, and that

ignorance was not the passport to success. * * *

"His nature was finely social. The words of Terence

he had made his own: 'I am a man, and nothing that

concerns a man do I deem a matter of indifference to

me.' Loving life and its contacts, it was never difficult

for Mr. Williams to establish and maintain cordial and

friendly relations with others, especially those who were

associated with him in daily work. He was the pleas-

antest of men, always thoughtful for others, and con-

siderate of them.

"Both as writer, and editor of classical authors, he

did excellent work. Through the paper of which he was

for nineteen years the editor, he exerted a strong in-

fluence for good, and was the friend and enthusiastic

and effective supporter of all worthy causes. The high

ideals, by which he himself was led, he ever strove to

make effective in the life of the community. A great

public servant has gone to his reward."

An editorial in the Indianapolis News says: "Proba-

bly Indianapolis never numbered in its citizenship a

more scholarly man than Mr. Williams. He was a

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Charles Richard Williams       331 scholar without being a recluse, for his interest in what was going on about him was keen. His nature was so- cial to a marked degree. There was in him none of the student's aloofness .... His literary taste was of the fin- est and his judgment on literary matters was sound. He had a rather unpitying scorn for what was metricious; yet he was no narrow specialist. He knew not only liter- ature, but history, philosophy, economics, public finance, and had a mastery of the problems which confront an editor who aspires to be of service to the public. His knowledge was as accurate as it was comprehensive. His influence was widely felt and was ever on the side of what was good and true and nobly elevating." Dr. Williams made instant appeal to both men and women, young and old. He was the best kind of com- pany: ready, witty and brilliant in conversation; a sym- pathetic and responsive listener; full of social resource -- to write an impromptu verse for some special occa- sion, or to concoct some unusual entertainment; an au- thority on facts when such were wanted; kindly, gen- erous, sincere; adored by his family and kindred, and welcomed as a friend by even his most casual acquaint- ances.

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