The biography was written on CITIZENS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INDIANAPOLIS, stationery. It is dated January 13, 1945.
Submitted by Pamela Meyer
Grover M. Williams, Consulting Engineer Indianapolis, Indiana
Grover M(ac) Williams, son of Walter E. and Hulda (McLaren) Williams, was born in Owen Co., Ind., Feb. 22, 1885. Walter E. Williams, son of Solomon Williams, was born in Owen Co., Ind., in 1855. He was a farmer. He died in 1933. His wife, Hulda (McLaren) Williams, who was born in Greene Co., Ind., in 1860, died in 1893. Both are buried in Williams Cemetery, in Owen Co., Ind. Hulda (McLaren) Williams was the dau. of William and Mary (Dyer) McLaren. Williams McLaren, who was born in Pennsylvania, later moved to Greene Co., Ind. Solomon Williams, father of Walter E., and son of William F.,Sr. and Mary (Padgett) Williams, was born at Carlisle, Ind., in 1823. He was a farmer. William F. Williams, Sr.,* father of Solomon Williams, was born at Ft. Knox, Knox Co., Ind. (then Indiana Territory), Dec. 27, 1803. His parents, Frank and Abigail Williams, who were born in New York Stae, moved to Kentucky in early days, and later to Indiana Teritory, settling in what now is Sullivan County. William F. Williams, Sr. moved from Sullivan County to Greene County in 1824, and in 1838 to Owen County, settling on a 150-acre farm. He served as magistrate of Greene County 16 years, and for many years was a mem. of the State Militia. He was a Democrat, and a mem. of the Masonic Lodge, and Protestant Episcopal church. On Dec. 28, 1822, he married Mary Padgett. They were the parents of the following children: (1) Solomon. (2) Daniel. (3) Josiah. (4) William F., Jr. (5) James (6) Jane (7) Elizabeth. Grover M. Williams, the subject of this sketch, attended public schs. in Owen Co., Ind., and in 1904 was graduated from high sch. in Spencer, Ind. He then entered Purdue Univ., where he was graduated in 1908 with a B.S. deg. in electrical engring. He was employed by the Indianapolis, Light, Heat & Power Co. 10 years, and durig World War I was in Civilian Service at Edgewood Arsenal, Edgewood, Maryland. From 1919 to 1924 he was employed by Snider & Rotz, engrs., of Indianapolis, and during 1924 and 1925 was associated with the Illinois Electrical Power Co., of Peoria, Ill. In 1925 he became identified with the Bevington-Williams Engineering Company, an Indianapolis firm, with which he continued until 1939. He served as sec.-teas. of the company, which durig that time became known as Bevington-Williams, Inc. This firm handled mechanical engring. contracts for the following bldgs.: the Scottish Rite Cathedral; William E. Block Co. bldg; Indiana Bell Telephone Co. bldg; Indianapolis Street Railways bldgs.; Central State Hosp.; Logansport (Ind.) State Hospital; Evensville (Ind.) State Hosp.; Ind. Univ. bldgs.; DePauw Univ. bldgs.; and many others. Since 1939 Mr. Williams has been in private practice as a consulting engr. Mr. Williams, who is ind. in politics, is a mem. of the following: Freedom (Ind.) Lodge No. 465, F. and A. M.; Columbia Club; Rotary Club; Indianapolis chapter, Citizen Hist. Assn. (a life member); and First Bapt. church. His favorite recreation is fishing. On apr. 12, 1910, Grover M. Williams married Grace Wallace, dau. of James Bee and Belle (Wilson) Wallace. Mrs. Williams was born in Lafayette, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of one child, Mary Isabelle, who was born July 7, 1911. James Bee Wallace, **father of Grace (Wallace) Williams, and son of Adam and Resena (Bee) Wallce, was born in a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, Nov. 8 1843. when 8 years of age he came with his parents of the U.S., settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. He sereved a plumber's apprenticeship, and followed this trade the remainder of his life, having estab. his business in Lafayette, Ind., in partnership with his brother William Wallace,** after the Civil War. On Dec. 28, 1870, he married Belle Wilson, and they were the parents of 6 children, the following of whom reached maturity: (1) Jennie. (2) Katherine. (3) Jessie. (4) Grace. (5) George.