Edward Williams (businessman)

Edward Williams
Edward Porter Williams
Born	Edward Porter Williams (1843-05-10)May 10, 1843 Cleveland, Ohio, US
Died	May 4, 1903(1903-05-04) (aged 59) Cleveland, Ohio, US
Education	Western Reserve University
Spouse(s)	Mary Louise Mason (m. 1869–1903)
Children	Walter Williams Edward Mason Williams Sarah Granger Williams Lewis Mason Williams Reba Louise Williams
Parent(s)	William Williams Laura Fitch

Edward Porter Williams (May 10, 1843 – May 4, 1903) was an American businessman who co-founded the Sherwin-Williams Company with Henry Sherwin.

Early life

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated from Cleveland Central High School in 1859, then earned a bachelor's (1864) and master's (1869) degree from Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University).^[1]

Civil War

Edward and his brother Charles joined the Army in 1862, along with the entire Western Reserve University, faculty and student alike. They were assigned to Company B, 85th Ohio Volunteers and held a short-term assignment at Camp Chase guarding Confederate prisoners. He mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, and had to be carried there on a cot, as he was recovering from typhoid fever.

Family

Edward married Mary Louise Mason. Children: Edward Mason Williams(Mary Redmond), Sarah Granger Williams(Abrahm Garfield), Lewis Mason Williams (Lester Coffeen), Reba Louise Williams (Arthur Douglas Baldwin), Walter Williams.

Business

In 1865, Edward and his brother Charles, along with Edward L Day entered the glass business in Kent, Ohio as Day & Williams. He left that company in 1870, investing $15,000 to partner with Henry A. Sherwin. Edward P. Williams was Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of the company at the time of his death.

Burial

Edward Porter Williams is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

References

Further reading