He died of dropsy at Hot Springs, Arkansas, leaving a wife, but no children.
Williamson was one of the most popular of the many players that the Chicago Club has had.

A big, good-natured and good-hearted fellow, he numbered his friends by the hundreds, and his early death was regretted by all who knew him.
Thomas E.Burns was playing with the Albany, N.Y., Club, who were then the champions of the New York State League when I signed him to play with Chicago.

He was a fair average batter, but was hardly fast enough to be considered a really good shortstop.
He was a fair base-runner, using excellent judgment in that respect, and a first-class slider, going into the bases head first when compelled to make a slide for them, instead of feet first, like the majority of the players of that day and generation; in fact, he was more of a diver than a slider, and he generally managed to get there.
After his release by Chicago he went to Pittsburg, where I had secured him a five-year contract as manager at a handsome salary, and where he had some trouble that resulted in the club's breaking the agreement and in the bringing of a lawsuit, which he won.
He then took charge of the Springfield, Mass., Club, a member of the New England League, Springfield being not far from his old home at New Britain.

Two years ago he took my place as manager of the Chicago Club, and that he has not made a success of it is due to certain causes that will be explained later on.
Abner Dalrymple was brought into the Chicago fold from Milwaukee, where he had been playing.

He was only an ordinary fielder, and a fair base runner, but excelled as a batsman.