South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-07-19

Cbariestown and compenced The
practice Of lav. 10 1872 he formed
J = part nership With his cousin. Capt.
George Bsy Tor. He soon rose % die.
tinction ia bis profession and took O
front stand at the bar. Mr.. Wilson
was delegate in 1850 to The demo-
cratic national convention at Cincin-
! natl. and mas chosen 40 .elector for
the State at large on the Hancock
ticket. He made thorough canvass
OF the State end established his rep :
utation 90 an eloquent and we'll equip
ped speaker. In 1852 he was chosen
President Of the West Virginia Uni.
versity at Morgantown. and entered
upon its duties In the fell Of that
year. Shortly afterwards be was g.
lected to Congress nv the democrats
OF the second west Virginia district,
which post he has held To the presen
time. having heen reelected in 1884.
1886 and 1883. As q member Of
Congress he has distinguished him
self as debster on the foor and a
worker on committees. In the 49th
Congress he was a member Of the
committee on appropriations. he
second highest committee.) and of
the ways and means committee the
highest) in the 50th Congress. For
two terms Mr.. Wilson Was q member
Of the District of Columbia commit
tee. and performed q vast amount Of
labor In the interest OF the Distr c..
In the last House lie was also
member OF tie commit,ee on trusts
aud Donopolies. and made . thor.
rough exsminaiir OF these matters.
His speech in favor CT tariff reform
in the last Congress was more widely
circulated, perhaps, than any made
in that great debate. aud even such q
high-tariff democrat as Mr.. Henry
w. Grady. Of The Atlanta Constitu
ton, said It was the best speech
made in Congress for twenty years.
Mr.. Wilson took an active part in
the last presidential campaign, ,ad-
dressing large andieIces,in the esst.
crn and western cities. He allowed
himself but few wecks for canvass
ing his own district, bat, potsith-
etouuthS quo khCt tudI lie was ituuThtu
as a victims by The opp oneuts Of tariff revi'
sion ana bis district was flooded With the
doodle of the millionaire marrifactur ess,
he was reelected by handsome majority.
BENZ min Wilson, the father Of William
Lyme Wilson moved to Jefferson county
from Lowe Virginia in early manhood and
taught school in the vicinity Of Middleway.
He was no ted for his sterling integrity, and
WAS il the days Of the old parties an open,
unfinching and Incorporating democrat.
The mother OF CONGRESS man wilson wss al
80 from Lower Virgins (King William
countv,) and was the daughter OF William
AID Eli z.beth Lyme, a daughter Of Gregory
Baylor, and sister of Col. .tichsrd G Bay
lorJ the president of The county court Of
Jefferson county from 1901 TO 1919. Mr.
Wilson's mother died in 1871. and his aunt,
Mics Lucy Lyme. in 1882.
Ar. Wilson married Miss Mamie Hunting.
don. the only daughter aud child OF Rev.
DR.. Hunting don, OF Columbian College, and
has by this marriage six childfen-iour sons
aud two daughters. Mr. WiIeon lie ripe
scholar, thorough lin2uist, a ready. fluent
speaker, q close reasonsr. quick at repariee,
strong in his,conviction and forc:ble an bis
expressions. GentfeCahir at all times in
his bearing, he relies on his powers of rea-
sohiug and trusts nothing to mere rhetorical
display Consequently he is stronger in
general de bate than on the hastings.