Williams was born in
Wakefield Street, Adelaide, son of John Williams (29 June 1876), a brewer. He was educated at
J. L. Young's
Adelaide Educational Institution, then started work at his father's brewery at
Angas Park (founded 1858) and ran that business for a few years after his father's death before it was liquidated. Williams was then appointed head brewer for the Black Horse brewery, Ballarat, and subsequently for Henry Leggo & Son's brewery in the same town. He returned to Adelaide as head brewer of the
Lion Brewing and Malting Company. He was also head brewer for the
Walkerville Cooperative Brewing Co. In 1901 he founded Williams Brewery Ltd, at
Walkerville, where he was a senior partner in the firm, but retired some years later.
John Tothill, later proprietor of
S. A. Brewing Company's
Mount Gambier brewery, served under him for several years at the company's
Broken Hill and
Laura breweries. He was appointed manager of the Waverley Brewery at
Mitcham around 1921, and he occupied that position for 12 years before resigning in 1933 due to ill health. At that time he was reckoned to be the oldest brewer still active in Australia. He died at his home, Wood Street,
Millswood. ==Family==