Rufus Phillips Williams was born on January 3, 1851, in Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts.

He was a teacher and author. He was educated at Dartmouth College and Harvard University. He worked as a teacher in chemistry and school principal throughout his life. Williams took an active part in the work of the American Chemical Society and served as its president in 1900. He wrote eight chemistry textbooks and laboratory manuals, e.g., "Laboratory Manual of General Chemistry" (1888) and "Introduction to Chemical Science" (1896).

In 1894, he married Lillian Walker (1854-1938). He died on August 23, 1911, in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Lewis White Williams was born on December 20, 1804, in East Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

He was a mineralogist and geologist. When the Chester County Cabinet of Natural Sciences was organized in 1826, he became one of its earliest and ardent members and chose mineralogy for his field of study. He collected and distributed many specimens from West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Williams also participated in expeditions into the neighbouring states and territories. In 1857, he was appointed assistant geologist and naturalist of The Camel Expedition to explore the territory from Texas to California. Williamsite, a variety of precious serpentine, was named after him in honour of his discovery.

He died on September 19, 1873, in West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.