My Genealogy Hound

JAMES CLARK WILLIAMS, A. M., president of Curry University, is a native of Allegheny county. He was born and spent the first seventeen years of his life on the old homestead farm, near Bakerstown, where his grandfather, Rev. Matthew Williams, one of the first Covenanter preachers in Western Pennsylvania, settled about the year 1800.

The four years after leaving the farm were spent in collegiate studies, which he commenced under the private tuition of the great astronomer and teacher, Prof. Bradley (the founder of the Allegheny Observatory), and were continued at Westminister College, Lawrence county, Pa. In 1872 he became the junior member of the firm of Garber & Williams, successors to Higby Cust & Co., importers and dealers in queensware and fine china, 189 Liberty street, Pittsburgh. In 1874, having disposed of his interests in that firm to advantage, he embarked in the real-estate business. Shortly after he purchased large flouring-mill interests, which, by energy and good business management, were made very profitable.

Five years later, the mills having been destroyed by fire, he associated himself with Curry Institute, after which he became principal in 1880, and with his brother, the late Harmon D. Williams, built up the institution in the face of most discouraging circumstances, attaining an almost unparalleled success.

The September term of 1880 was begun with less than a dozen pupils, while the enrollment last year (1888) was 1,403 students, under a faculty of thirty teachers who are giving instruction in the full course of university studies. In recognition of his scholarly attainments the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., in 1883.

He has been careful to have associated with him in the faculty of the university only Christian ladies and gentlemen. And while the university is thoroughly non-sectarian, yet it is also known as a thoroughly Christian institution, where a high standard of morality and Christian influence is always recognized.

Mr. Williams is a regular attendant at the Third Presbyterian Church, where he has been a member for about sixteen years, and devotes much of his time to helping young people in needy circumstances to better their condition.

President Williams is a man of tireless energy, of abundant resources in management, strict, yet kind in discipline, and the large institution which he has built up in so short a time is both an honor to himself and to the county in which he was born.