A. H. A. Williams
American politician and businessman (1842–1895)
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Archibald Hunter Arrington Williams (October 22, 1842 – September 5, 1895) was an American politician and businessman. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina.
October 22, 1842
A. H. A. Williams | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Williams by Charles Milton Bell, taken between January 1891 and January 1894 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | |
| Preceded by | John M. Brower |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Settle |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the Granville County district | |
| In office 1883–1885 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Archibald Hunter Arrington Williams October 22, 1842 |
| Died | September 5, 1895 (aged 52) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
Early life and education
Williams was born on October 22, 1842, either near Louisburg, North Carolina,[1] or in Nash County.[2] He was one of five children born to Henry Guston Williams and Elizabeth Nicholson (née Arrington) Williams. His father was a member of the North Carolina Senate.[3] He was the nephew of Archibald Hunter Arrington, the second cousin twice removed of William Walton Kitchin and Claude Kitchin, and the second cousin thrice removed of A. Paul Kitchin.[4]
Educated at common schools, Williams studied at Emory & Henry University.[1]
Career
During the American Civil War, Williams was for four years a private in the Army of Northern Virginia of the Confederate States Army.[1] He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg[5] and participated in the Battle of Appomattox Court House, during the latter of which he was captain of the 56th North Carolina Infantry Regiment.[3] After the war, he was a farmer and merchant in Oxford, North Carolina. He was president of the Oxford and Henderson Railroad.[1]
Williams was a Democrat. From 1883 to 1885,[1] he represented Granville County in the North Carolina House of Representatives.[4] He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1891, to March 3, 1893, representing North Carolina's 5th district. He lost the following election,[1] though unsuccessfully claimed his successor, Thomas Settle III, won the election illegally.[2] Politically, he was liberal.[6]
Personal life and death
For many years, Williams was a director of the Oxford Orphan Asylum.[3] On July 25, 1871, he married Susan Alice Bryan.[4] He was a member of the Freemasons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.[3] He was nicknamed "Baldy". He died on September 5, 1895, aged 52, in Chase City, Virginia, from Bright's disease,[7] and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery, in Oxford.[1]