Ernest D. Williams, M. D., one of the leading practitioners of Kansas City, Kan., was born in Riley county, Kansas, Aug. 28, 1870, a son of Johnson S. and Ruth J. (White) Williams. His father was a native of Henry county, Kentucky. He joined the Ashland Colony, which was organized in Kentucky and Ohio, and came to Kansas with those pioneers. They located in Riley county, laid out the town of Ashland, and most of the members took up farms. Mr. Williams preëmpted a homestead and subsequently bought 160 acres of land where he lived until 1908 and then moved to Manhattan, Kan., where he still lives. The family were members of the Christian church. On the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Williams enlisted in the Union army and served with great credit to himself until the cessation of hostilities. His father, Hensen Williams, came to Kansas in 1858, being one of the early settlers; engaged in farming and followed that occupation until his death, in 1884. Ernest Williams' maternal grandfather, Dyer White, was born in the State of New York. He came to Kansas in 1860 and settled in Miami county, where he followed the occupations of farmer and carpenter. After spending some years in Miami county Mr. White removed to Riley county, where he spent the rest of his days. He died in 1885.

Ernest Williams received his early education in the district school near his father's farm; studied at Baker University and the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan. After leaving Baker University he taught school for five years in Riley county, but decided to devote his life to the study and practice of medicine and entered the University Medical College at Kansas City, Mo., where he graduated in 1899. There was a good opening for a physician in Kansas City, Kan., at that time and Dr. Williams at once located there and has been continuously engaged in professional work since. In January, 1911, he was elected a member of the medical staff of St. Margaret's Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. He has built up a general practice, which is both satisfactory and lucrative and is one of the popular members of the medical fraternity in the city. Dr. Williams belongs to the county, state and American medical societies and is a member of several fraternal organizations, among them the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican and was elected a member of the board of education in 1905, 1908, and again in 1911, serving two years as president of that body.

In 1901 Dr. Williams married Lillian, the daughter of Ephraim St. John, who was born and reared in the State of New York. Mr. St. John came to Kansas in 1859 and was one of the pioneer settlers of Manhattan, Kan. He engaged in farming after coming to the state, and served in the Kansas state miltia[sic] during the Civil war. He took an active part in local affairs, was commissioner of Riley county and also a member of the board of education many years. He died Feb. 14, 1905. Dr. and Mrs. Williams have one child, Esther, five years of age. They are members of the Presbyterian church. In addition to his practice the Doctor has a fine farm, and is regarded as one of the prosperous citizens of Kansas City.