Edward Williams

Edward Porter Williams was born on May 10, 1843, in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his secondary education at Cleveland Central High School, graduating in 1859. Williams pursued higher education at Western Reserve College, now known as Case Western Reserve University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1864 and a master's degree in 1869.

In 1862, during the American Civil War, Williams and his brother Charles joined the Union Army, along with the entire student body and faculty of Western Reserve College. They were assigned to Company B of the 85th Ohio Regiment. Their military service included a brief period at Camp Chase, where they were tasked with guarding Confederate prisoners. Edward Williams was mustered out of service in Columbus, Ohio, and at that time, he was transported on a cot due to recovery from typhoid fever.

Williams married Mary Louise Mason. Their children included Edward Mason Williams, who married Mary Redmond; Sarah Granger Williams, married to Abraham Garfield; Lewis Mason Williams, married to Lester Coffeen; Reba Louise Williams, married to Arthur Douglas Baldwin; and Walter Williams.

In the business arena, Williams co-founded the Sherwin-Williams Company in 1870 with Henry A. Sherwin, following his departure from the glass manufacturing firm Day & Williams, which he had established in 1865 with his brother Charles and Edward L. Day in Kent, Ohio. Williams invested $15,000 in the new enterprise. Over time, he served as the company's executive vice president and was a member of its board of directors until his death.

Edward Porter Williams passed away on May 4, 1903. He is interred at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.