Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-03
DEArIIOF CAPT. WILSON.
A Sk ctch OF His Life and Private Dis.
position.

pOhitIOn.
For so many days this community has
been dreading, yet expecting the news OF
the death OF Capt. Andrew Wilson that
when it came yesterday it brought sorrow
without any shock. For weeks past he has
been lowering almost on the very portals
of death, supported only by an iron will
and an unequal constitution. \ few days
ago he felt it would be useless to longer
struggle against the inevitable and an
nounced his coming dissolution. His life
for days tluttered within him like a candle
flame until Sunday, when he gradually
sank into q moribund condition from
which he never revived, but passed quietly
away at $50 o'clock.
Capt. Wilson was man whose career Is
indelibly written in the history of this
vicinity. In him were combined elements
which only the lack OF a youthful educa-
tion prevented from carrying him to great
ness and which, had they been developed
by even the common school training his
latter years were spent in furthering, would
have marked him man among men. The
lack Of that early culture was felt throug IL
out his life, in depriving him OF the Ian.
guage in which to quickly and fluently
give expression to his thoughts and to his
near friends, who could read the ideas
struggling TO burst into words, he recalled
the early efforts Of Sheridan, who had it
in him and it must come out"
His early advantages were meagre and
limited. Born in 1910 at the old Wilson
homestead, three miles back of Wellsburg,
he spent his youth in hard work, support
ing the family and serving an apprentice.
ship as a millwright and building up the
iron constitution for which he was noted.
Arriving at manhood, he yielded to the
charms the river had for him and until
1887 he was engaged in boating pursuits.
In that year he went TO Jackson county and
began the -four and lumber business and
soon afterward came 10 Wheeling. Here
he engaged in building boats and conduct
ing a general lumber traffic, which he pur-
sued until some fifteen years ago. The old
Wilson mill burned three years since, but
the foundation and the old ways still re-
main. He became also interested in iron,
and invested in Belmont mill stock, OF
which company he was director at the
time of his death
In politics he mingled very largely and
sat III the convention that organized the
State OF West Virginia. He has served
terms in both houses OF the State congress,
having last been a member OF the lower
house in the session of 1879. In the gov
eminent OF THIS city ne mas long Oeen con-
spicuous. For years lie represented the
Fifth ward in both branches Of the city
council and in the Board of Education,
of which latter he was presi.
dent at the time of his death.
His shrewd business qualifications always
brought him TO the front. None could
quicker digest the salient points OF a bal
ance sheet or detect the flaws OF q bust
ness management. Besides the Belmont
mill, as mentioned, he was President OF
the Citizens Railway Company, Director
of the Fire and Marine Insurance Com
papy and the Peoples Bank, and was con-
nected with various other enterprises.
In 1888 be married Mary Patterson,
daughter of Robert Patterson. She died in
ls43, and her only child, Robert Patterson
Wilson. was killed in 1877 at Fort
Richardson, Tex, by the bursting Of gun.
He was q graduate OF West Point and COM
manded the fort with the rank of major.
In 1854 Capt Wilson married Elizabeth
Updegrsf, who now survives him and four
Of whose children are now living.
Like every man of his intense aud as
sertiDg disposition, Capt. Wilson made
many warm friends and not q few enemies.
Only these who became we'll acquainted
with fully appreciated him, out many are
they who win mourn the loss of him as q
friend. while all will join in regretting bis
loss TO the community.