Frank E. Williamson holds a position of prominence in the financial circles of Delaware county as president of the Hopkinton State Bank, which is a thoroughly reliable and progressive institution. He also has extensive real-estate interests, owning a stock farm of one thousand acres in this county and also land in other states.
       Mr. Williamson was born in Hopkinton on the 1st of October, 1860, a son of James T. and Helen A. (Davis) Williamson. The father was born in Elkton, Todd county, Kentucky, in 1834 and in 1852 came to this county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Williamson, the family home being established in the Plum Creek settlement. The grandfather of the subject of this review built the first Presbyterian church at Hopkinton and was the first elder of the same. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Sarah B. Hadden, taught school after she and her husband arrived in this county and was one of the first teachers in Hopkinton. On the maternal side the grandfather of Frank E. Williamson was Edmund Davis and the grandmother was in her maidenhood Miss Clarinda Hart, a descendant of a New York family. Mr. Davis was one of the early justices of the peace of Hopkinton and a man of considerable importance in the community. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James T. Williamson, three of whom died in infancy. The others were: Frank E.; Fines A., formerly a physician of Hopkinton but now practicing his profession at Pasadena, California; Floyd D., who lives at Hopkinton; and Fred C., deceased. The mother is still living and is hale and hearty, although she celebrated her eightieth birthday July 26, 1914.
       Frank E. Williamson attended the public schools and later continued his education in Lenox College. After leaving that institution he took a course at Bayless Business College of Dubuque and subsequently became bookkeeper for the Iowa Packing Company at Sabula, Iowa. He remained with them for a year and then went to Sioux City, where he was a partner in the firm of Williamson, Davis & Company, dealers in cattle. The association was continued for three years, after which the company dissolved and Mr. Williamson entered the banking field as a bookkeeper for Doolittle & Son, bankers of Hopkinton. He entered their employ on the 12th of May, 1884, and in 1890 he was promoted to assistant cashier, while two years later he was made cashier. In 1893 the name of the bank was changed to the Hopkinton Bank and Mr. Williamson became vice president of the institution, so continuing until 1900, when the bank was incorporated as the Hopkinton State Bank. He was made vice president of the new concern and on the 4th of December, 1912, was elected president, which position he still holds. His long connection with the institution has made him thoroughly familiar with all of the details of its operation and as he is a constant student of financial problems and conditions he is also acquainted with the trend of affairs in the larger financial world. With the assistance of the other officers and the directors of the bank he has been able to secure its steady growth and at the same time he has zealously guarded the interests of stockholders and depositors. Aside from his connection with the bank he has a number of business interests, owning a stock farm of about one thousand acres and also tracts of land in Minnesota and Canada. He was likewise the originator of the Hopkinton Cooperative Creamery Company and was one of the organizers of the Farmers Supply Company, which deals in lumber, feed and fuel. For a number of years he has been a trustee of Lenox College and has always the interests of that institution at heart.
      On the 29th of July, 1885, Mr. Williamson was united in marriage with Miss Nellie A. Doolittle, who was born at Delhi, Iowa, November 9,1862. She attended the public schools of her native city, college at Rockford, Illinois, and at Grinnell, Iowa, and was graduated from Lenox College at Hopkinton with the class of 1883. Her father was Judge F. B, Doolittle, of Delhi, who was one of the most highly respected residents of that city. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williamson: Edmond Doolittle, born July 10, 1887; Benjamin P., who was born July 7, 1890, and was a teller in the bank at the time of his death, which occurred when he was twenty two years of age; John C., born June 1, 1892; Harlan J., July 18, 1894; George W., September 6, 1896; Perry F., September 24, 1897; Nelly A., December 15, 1898; and Elizabeth Rose, August 5, 1902. The first and third sons are operating the stock farm and the other children are in school.
      Mr. Williamson is a republican in politics and his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order and has taken the thirty second degree, belonging to the Des Moines Consistory. The family reside upon their farm, which is situated one mile south of Hopkinton, the location enabling them to enjoy the delights of both farm and town life. Mr. Williamson is a man of more than usual energy and as his activities are always directed by sound judgment he has been able to accomplish a great deal and that without violating any of the principles of honor and right. His unswerving loyalty to the highest standards of ethics has won for him the sincere respect of all who know him and he is accounted one of the most valued citizens of Hopkinton.