The History of General James M. Williamson
James A. Williamson was born in Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky on the  February 8th, 1829. When he was fifteen the family moved to Iowa where he took a claim in Keokuk County. Here he supported the family by farming for several years. Then he sold the farm and completed his education at Knox College, Illinous. He studied Law with Marcellus Crocker at Lancaster, James was admitted to take his bar in 1855. The he moved to Des Moines. Mr Williamson was member of the syndicate which he built the first Capital in Des Moines and furnish it free of rent to the State for many years.
He was proiment Democratic politican until the Rebellion began, when he entered the Miltary service as adjuntant of the 4th Iowa Infantry and as the progressed became a warm supporter of Lincoln Administration.James Williamson was a fine officers and won rapid promotion to to Lieutant-Colonel and for long time commanded a brigade. He was in Sherman's march to the sea. He participated in the most of the Battles of the Army. Near the close of the war he was promoted to Brigader-General. He was was chiarman of the National Republican Convention in Chicago in1868 and he nominated General Grant for President of the United States of America.
In 1877, General Williamson was appointed to the General Land Officer in Washington, which the office he held until 1881. When he became Land Commissioner of the Altantic and Pacific Railroad. Afterwards he was President of the Company
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						General James Williamson was award the Medal of Honor on January 17, 1895.The Medal of Honor was awarded for led his regiment against a superior force, strongly entrenched and held his ground when all support had ith drawn at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi on December 29th, 1862. General James Williamson died on September 7, 1902.
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