Arthur Ashley Williams

Caroline Phillips Williams

Arthur was born on December 16th, 1879 in North Easton, MA. He was one of thirteen children born to James Franklin and Hanna Jane (Allen) Williams. In addition to Arthur at least three of this siblings became involved in the shoe industry. Arthur graduated from Burdett College, studied at the Emerson School of Oratory and spent three years studying law in night school.

In 1902 at the age 23 he organized the Arthur Ashley Williams Shoe Company. The factory burned six years later. In June of 1908 he purchased an existing plant in Holliston and moved to Holliston with his wife.

On May 7, 1904 he married Caroline Phillips Samson in Keene, NEw Hampshire. They had five children, Arthur Ashely Jr. was born in 1905, Phillips was born on February 4, 1909. Ruth on October 12, 1914, William on March 24, 1920 and David Sampson on January 16, 1922.

Arhur's most significant contribution to shoemaking in the US was invention of the steeltoed safety shoe. It led to the establishment of a subsidiary; a separately incorporated firm, known as the Safety First Shoe Company. It won him a medal from the National Association of Manufactures and it probably was responsible for the fortune which became the basis of the foundation.