Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
James H. Wilson
Washington Democrat
Tuesday, February 18, 1919 page 4
Death Takes One of County’s Most Interesting Men - James H. Wilson, 89 Years Old, Dies After 9 Years of Illness of Paralysis
Long Identified With County Affairs
Could Not Read or Write, But He Amassed Quite a Comfortable Fortune
Quick at Figures
James H. Wilson, one of the most interesting men in Daviess county, died about 8 o’clock this morning at his home at the corner of Bedford Road and East Fourteenth Street. Paralysis was the cause of death. Mr. Wilson was stricken for the first time nine years ago, and since then there have been frequent recurrent attacks. He had been practically an invalid since the first stroke and for the last six months had been unable to speak. He was 89 years old.
Mr. Wilson was an unusual man. Unable to read or write, he amassed a fortune valued at about $75,000 about nine years ago when he settled up his estate and divided his property among his children. For a good many years he farmed in Barr Township. He also operated saw mills, threshing machines and was a contractor. He and the Brown brothers built the east Walnut Street grade school building and also dredged Prairie Creek for the first time. One of Mr. Wilson’s fine points was his ability to handle men.
Though unable to read or write, Mr. Wilson was well educated and could tell the price of hogs, corn, or anything else, quicker than it could be figured out on paper. Given the weight and price of hogs, he could give their total value at almost a moment’s notice, but he could not tell how he did it. He had a system of his own for figuring and it seemed to be infallible. At one time he took a bunch of hogs to a Montgomery market to sell. He saw them weighed and the buyer figuring the price. The buyer announced the price and Mr. Wilson declared it was wrong. Figuring again, the buyer found his mistake and discovered the price was what Mr. Wilson said it was. Every day, some member of Mr. Wilson’s family read the daily paper to him, column by column, and when he came down town, Mr. Wilson was as well acquainted with current events as any of his neighbors who could read. His memory was excellent.
Mr. Wilson had the gold fever in 1849 and joined the rush to California in that year in quest of gold. His luck, while not an absolute failure, was indifferent, and he returned back home by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City with about enough money to buy him a forty acre farm.
The deceased was born February 18, 1830, in this county and was a son of Joseph and Anna Wilson, his father having been a pioneer Christian minister of southern Indiana. On December 23, 1852, he married Susan Lytton, who survives him. Out of thirteen children born to them, the following are still living: Mrs. Nellie Fyffe, city; Milton H. of Barr Township; James W. Wilson, Wakeeney, Kansas; Thomas T. of Barr Township; Tabitha Stillwell, near this city; and Martha S. who lives at home. The deceased children are Laura, Joseph, Dicie, Mary, Emma, Andrew J. and Jacob. It is interesting to note that there are just one hundred members of his family living. They include the above living children, 3 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Mr. Wilson was a life-long member of the Christian Church. He served several years as trustee of the local church that was destroyed by fire a few years ago. Early in life he built the Liberty Christian Church in VanBuren Township, which is still standing. He cut and dressed the lumber and his wife kiln-dried it, after which Mr. Wilson erected the church.
The deceased moved to his home in this city twenty-three years ago. He had long been a prominent figure in this county and continued in activity until paralysis prevented. Following his first stroke, he expected that his passing was not far off. He went to Oak Grove Cemetery, purchased a suitable burial lot and had a monument erected. Then he settled up his estate, valued at about $75,000 at that time, dividing his property among the children.
Private services will be held at the home at 1 o’clock Thursday and public funeral services will be held at the First Christian Church at 2 o’clock with burial following in Oak Grove Cemetery. Rev. Elmer E. Davidson, former pastor of the local Christian Church, will deliver the funeral sermon.
Contributed by Sandra Hedrick Allen