Samuel Williams

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.

Early life Williams was born in Mount Carmel, Illinois in 1851. At some point, he moved to Indiana and became a judge.

Political career In 1904, he was one of the candidates for the Populist Party's nomination for president and served as chairman of the Populist Committee. 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.

Williams served in the Indiana House of Representatives and was a Democrat at the time of his election to the Indiana General Assembly.

In 1908, Williams was the vice presidential nominee of the Populist Party, running with Thomas E. Watson. They received 28,862 votes (0.19%), performing best in Watson's home state of Georgia, where they received upwards of 12%.

Death Williams died of appendicitis on August 5, 1913, in Vincennes, Indiana, at the age of 62. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Vincennes.