The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-11-17
SAD NEWS.
Death Of Gha,,ss n WIssiIstO" at Sac

SAD NEWS.
DEATH OF Charles H wilmington at Sac
raInentO, California.
Only few days ago we made note of
the receipt or a letter from Uncle Char
lie Wilmington in which it was stated
he was in good health and greatly en-
joyiug his visit among his relatives in
California. Judge of our surprise and
pain when the following was received
from his son, AL. Wilmington, yesterday:
SACRAMENTO, Nov. z, 1881.
DEAR FRIEND: / have sad news 10
tell you. Ny father, &. ii. Wilmington,
died ON The 4th Of this month of cholera,
at the residence of his brother, r. II.
Wilmington, aged sixty-five years and
eight months. / arrived here in time TO
be with him when he died.
This will indeed be sad news 10 his
hundreds of friends and acquaintances in
this and adjoining counties. Wherever
known. uncle CHARLIE was beloved for
his good qualities of head and heart
For nearly thirty years he had been do
ing kind deeds in this part of the state
His heart was always overlooking with
acts of kindness and charity. Though
used 10 "roughing il" much of his life
in the past his heart was as tender al
most as that of child. In his twenty
seven years residence in this county he
had gathered round him the comforts of
home, and endeared himself 10 his
neighbOrs and friends. There will be
many q sad heart when this announce
ment is read, and many a tear will come
TO the eyes of those who have known his
home life best.
''IIe had a tear OF pity, and hand
ODen as day for charity" .-.s
In June, 1890, Mr.. Wilmington lost
his wife = one who had been his COM
panion and help for forty-three years,
and since that time he has sought relief
from his overshadowing grief by tray
cling, visiting friends aud relatives in
different parts of the country.
After the sad event which
took from him his companion and best
friend he could not bear. to stay at the
old home. Ills sorrowing could find no
rest. He first made q visit of some
months in Michigan and other portions
of the east. Last winter he spent with
his two daughters in Colorado. Early
last summer he arranged his business
matters here and went to California to
stay year among relatives. Only few
days ago letter informed us he was
thinking of returning carly next Year,
and that he anticipated great deal of
pleasure in again being among his old
friends at home. This pleasure was
never to be realized. Death stepped in
and relieved the sorrowing spirit from
further earthly troubles.
Mr.. Wilmington at the time of his
death was the oldest settler in Lyon
county, as well us among the oldest in
the state. We believe he was born in
New York, and afterwards removed to
Michigan. when young. In 1887 he was
in business IN Burlington, iowa, and on
December 81 of that year was married
to Dorinda White. The next year he
was employed in the government SER
vice among the Sac and Fox Indians,
and was sent to what is now Agency
City, Iowa. In 1S43 the agency was
moved to what is now Des- Moines, in
that state. Mrs. Wilmington was one of
the first white women 10 settle Mt that
point, and Mr.. WiihingtOn's son, George
E, who is at the old homestead, was the
first white male child born at Des
Moines. In 1916 the Indians were
moved to Kansas and Mr.. With
ington came with them. They
settled at the we'll known Sac
and Fox agency, in Franklin county.
Here Mr.. w. remained until 1851, when
he was appointed U. s. mail agent for
the old Santa Fe route running from In
dependence, Mo-, to Santa Fe, New
Mexico, with headquarters at Council
Grove, where he removed with his fami-
ly. He also kept store there TO supply the
Santa Fe and Indian trade. In 1854 he
moved from Council Grove % the Santa
Fe crossing of One Hundred and Forty
two creek, where he built the home
which has been his abiding place ever
since. He opened. a 4stor8. there which
| was the first one in Southern Kansas
away from the Indian Quitting posts.
THIS whole country was then an unsur-
veyed and unsettled wild. In 1855 and
1856 Mr.. WithingtOn's place was head
quarters for all immigrants for this pOr
ton of the Neosho valley. They would
come to him for information as to
claims. With his accustomed whole.
heartedness and disposition to
serve all in need of help
he often left his business for days at q
time and assisted the early pioneers in
finding such claims as they wanted. His
knowledge Of this part of the state was
almost perfect. He was ever good
friend of the true interests of Lyon eoun-
ty, and useful citizen. He, died in a
distant land, and where his friends were
deprived of paying the last sad rites Of
sepulture, but he is none the less mourn
ed by his family of four children and
multitudcs of friends