Jefferson-Montgomery County AlArchives Biographies.....Cameron, William J. 1851 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00012.html#0002972 June 14, 2006, 1:43 pm Author: “Memorial Record of Alabama,” Volume 2, published by Brant & Fuller in Madison, WI (1893), pages 251-252 William J. Cameron, president of the First National bank of Birmingham and one of the most conspicuous of the young financiers of the south, was born in Montgomery, Ala., in 1851. His ancestors, on his father’s side, were originally from Scotland, and were of the distinguished clan, Cameron, of that country. His father emigrated from the north of Ireland to the United States about 1838. IN 1840 he became a resident of Montgomery and was there engaged in mercantile business until the close of the war. He is still engaged in business in Montgomery. In 1850 he married Miss Eliza Crozier of Philadelphia, by whom he had four children, who are now living, William J. being the eldest of the family, and the only son. He was educated in the schools of Montgomery, and received a one year’s course at the Norristown academy, at Norristown, Penn. He began his business career in the banking house of Josiah Morris of Montgomery, and rose rapidly from the position of runner through the various positions in the bank, and in 1880, through the influence of Mr. Morris, he was appointed cashier of the City bank of Birmingham. Iin 1884, upon the organization of the First National bank of Birmingham, he was appointed cashier, and in 1883 he was elected its president. Mr. Cameron has been a resident of Birmingham since 1880, and beside his position as president of the First National bank, which is one of the strongest financial institutions in the south, he is president of the Southern Bridge company. While living in Montgomery, Mr. Cameron was second lieutenant of the famous Montgomery Greys, and upon the re-organization of the state troops he was make major of the Second Infantry, which was in service during the famous Posey riot in 1883. Mr. Cameron has been married twice, first to Miss Mary E. Smith of Montgomery in 1872. She died in 1881, leaving four children, viz.: William Smith, Pauline, Andrew C. and William J., Jr. In 1883 Mr. Cameron married Miss Mary B. Ward, daughter of George R. Ward of Birmingham. Additional Comments: William and his wife are listed in the 1880 US Census, Birmingham, Jefferson County. Mary Smith Cameron is listed ss "Libby," born about 1841 in Alabama. With them are children Smith, age 6, Pauline, age 3, and Andrew, age 10/12, all born in Alabama. File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/al/jefferson/bios/cameron28nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/alfiles/ File size: 3.0 Kb