Samuel Wardell Williams (February 7, 1851 – August 5, 1913) was an American judge who is best known for being the Populist Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in the election of 1908.[1]
Samuel Wardell Williams | |
---|---|
Majority Leader of the Indiana House of Representatives | |
In office 1885 | |
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from Knox County | |
In office 1882–1886 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Mount Carmel, Illinois, United States | February 7, 1851
Died | August 5, 1913 Vincennes, Indiana, United States | (aged 62)
Political party | Democrat Populist |
Williams was born in Mount Carmel, Illinois in 1851. At some point, he moved to Indiana and became a judge.
In 1904, he was one of the candidates for the Populist Party's nomination for president and served as chairman of the Populist Committee.[2] He came in third place at the convention, receiving 45 votes on the first ballot. Thomas E. Watson received 698 votes, and William V. Allen received 319.[3]
Williams served in the Indiana House of Representatives and was a Democrat at the time of his election to the Indiana General Assembly.[4][5]
In 1908, Williams was the vice presidential nominee of the Populist Party, running with Thomas E. Watson.[6][7] They received 28,862 votes (0.19%), performing best in Watson's home state of Georgia, where they received upwards of 12%.[8]
Williams died of appendicitis on August 5, 1913, in Vincennes, Indiana, at the age of 62. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Vincennes.[2][9]