WILLIAMSON ships, sold for $10,000 more. About 1820 residents of Berkshire county gave $17,500 to prevent the removal of the college to North- ampton. In 1868 the legislature of Massachu- setts gave the college $75,000 on condition that $75,000 more should be secured by voluntary donation. The productive funds of the col- lege now exceed $300,000, and its funds for the benefit of needy students amount to $90,- 000. Prizes amounting to $425 are distribu- ted annually. There are geological, botanical, and zoological collections, and the college library contains 17,000 volumes. All the in- struction is given directly by full professors. In 1875-'6 there were 11 professors and 170 students. The number of graduates is 1,541. WILLIAMSON. I. A central county of Texas, drained by San Gabriel river and its tributa- ries; area, 1,100 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 6,368, of whom 801 were colored. The surface is level and diversified by prairie and woodland, and the soil is very fertile. The chief produc- tions in 1870 were 12,247 bushels of wheat, 208,574 of Indian corn, 5,086 of sweet pota- toes, 22,518 Ibs. of wool, and 913 bales of cot- ton. There were 7,946 horses, 3,481 milch cows, 29,221 other cattle, 12,062 sheep, and 7,850 swine. Capital, Georgetown. II. A cen- tral county of Tennessee, drained by the head streams of the Harpeth river ; area, 476 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 25,328, of whom 11,411- were colored. The surface is generally hilly and the soil highly fertile. Iron ore and some other minerals are found. The county is intersected by the Louisville, Nashville, and Great South- ern railroad. The chief productions in 1870 were 227,294 bushels of wheat, 1,010,443 of Indian corn, 99,933 of oats, 24,440 of Irish and 20,555 of sweet potatoes, 187,008 Ibs. of but- ter, 29,944 of wool, 80,415 of tobacco, 3,815 bales of cotton, and 2,680 tons of hay. There were 7,194 horses, 3,121 mules and asses, 5,060 milch cows, 6,988 other cattle, 15,226 sheep, and 41, 703 swine; 8 manufactories of carriages and wagons, 2 flour mills, and 7 saw mills. Capital, Franklin. III. A S. county of Illinois, drained by Big Muddy river and other streams ; area, 432 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 17,329. The surface is diversified by prairie and woodland, and the soil is fertile. Bituminous coal is abundant. The Carbondale and Shawneetown railroad terminates at the county seat. The chief productions in 1870 were 170,963 bushels of wheat, 655,710 of Indian corn, 180,986 of oats, 38,901 of Irish and 24,900 of sweet po- tatoes, 16,728 Ibs. of butter, 43,908 of wool, 1,152,589 of tobacco, and 3,059 tons of hay. There were 5,129 horses, 1,667 mules and asses, 4,016 milch cows, 6,354 other cattle, 20,971 sheep, and 30,281 swine ; 5 manufactories of carriages and wagons, 2 flour mills, 1 woollen mill, and 3 saw mills. Capital, Marion. WILLIAMSON, Hugh, an American physician, born in West Nottingham, Pa., Dec. 5, 1735, died in New York, May 22, 1819. He gradu- ated at the university of Pennsylvania in 1757, WIUJAMSTOWN 643 was professor of mathematics there from 1760 to 1764, and afterward studied medicine at Edinburgh and Utrecht, and practised in Phil- adelphia. He went to London in 1773, and being called before the privy council, warned it of the impolicy of its measures. He re- turned in 1776, after a time settled at Edenton, N. C., was a surgeon in the army, was several times elected to congress, and was a member of the convention that framed the federal con- stitution. In 1793 he removed to New York. He published "A Discourse on the Benefits of Civil History " (New York, 1810) ; " Observa- tions on the Climate of America" (1811); and "History of North Carolina" (2 vols., 1812). WILLIAMSPORT, a city and the county seat of Lycoming co., Pennsylvania, on the N. bank of the West branch of the Susquehanna river, be- tween Lycoming and Loyalsock creeks, 70 m. N. by W. of Harrisburg; pop. in 1870, 16,030. It is surrounded by high hills and much fine scenery. The streets are wide and straight, lighted with gas, and traversed by horse cars. The business quarter is substantially built, and numerous handsome residences and gardens make the place very attractive. It owes its prosperity to the lumber business. The Sus- quehanna boom extends from 3 to 4 m. up the river, and in spring is filled with pine and hemlock logs. The annual shipments of lum- ber average about 250,000,000 ft. The West Branch canal passes through the city, and the Philadelphia and Erie, the Northern Central, and the Catawissa and Williamsport railroads meet here. There are numerous saw mills, several planing mills, machine shops, and f oun- deries, and manufactories of saws, files, car- riages, locks, soap and candles, ale and beer, shingle machines, &c. The city contains six national banks, with an aggregate capital of $784,950; a savings bank; a home for the friendless ; nine public school houses, with gra- ded schools, including a high school, attended by about 3,500 pupils; and two academies. Two daily, one semi-weekly (German), and six weekly (two German) newspapers are pub- lished. There are 32 churches, viz. : 5 Baptist, 1 Congregational, 3 Episcopal, 3 Evangelical, 1 Jewish, 4 Lutheran, 8 Methodist, 4 Presbyte- rian, 1 Reformed, and 2 Roman Catholic. Ses- sions of the United States courts for the W. district of Pennsylvania are held here twice a y ear> Williamsport was settled in 1797, in- corporated as a borough in 1806, and received a city charter in 1866. WILLIAMSTOW, a town of Berkshire co., Massachusetts, on the Troy and Boston rail- road, 25 m. (direct) E. of Troy, N. Y. ; pop. in 1860, 2,611 ; in 1870, 3,559; in 1875, 8,683. It occupies the N. W. corner of the state, bor- dering on New York and Vermont. It abounds in fine scenery, and is becoming a summer re- sort. Print cloths are manufactured, two fac- tories, with 18,447 spindles, being employed. The town contains 13 public schools, a prepar- atory school for boys, a town library, and Bap-
