Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-07-09
Lon. I'm. 1. wilson.
Sketch Of the dole Congressman from
the Second District Of Yes Va.
From the baltimore snn4

trict of West Virginia, whose series
of articles on trusts and monopolies,
prepared especially for the Sun, will
begin to appear with tomorrow 5 is
sue, was born near Middleway, Jeff
erson county, Va, May 3, 1873, and
is consequently in the 47th year of
his age. lie was the only child Of
Benjamin and Mary Wilson. When
a mere child his father died, and his
training and education fell to his
mother and his maiden aunt, Miss
Lucy Lyme. When a small boy, the
family moved to Charlestown, where
Mr.. Wilson has since resided. HE
attended the Chartestown Academy
from 1850 to 1857, where he stood at
the head of his classes and was noted
for his wonderful memory. While q
scTloolboy he was a member of Zion
(Episcopal) Sunday-school, and the
late Bushrod w. Herbert offered a
gold watch to the scholar who would
commit to memory and repeat the
greatest number of psalms. The fu-
ture Congressman repeated the en-
tire book, and of course, won the
prize. The watchis very highly priced
by Mr.. Wilson to-day. In 1857 he
entered Columbian College, Washing
ton, ID. G. In the summer of 1860
ne graduated from that institution,
and entered the University of Virginia
at Charlottesville, in the fall of that
year. In the spring of 1861 he left
the University to enter the Confeder-
ate army, and served faithfully and
gaiiantry throughout the war as n
private IN Company Is. Twelfth Vir-
gfnia Cavalry, Rosser1 s. Brigade, Ar
my of Northern Virginia. In De-
cember, 1862, he was taken prisoner
in a cavalry sSirmish near Halltown,
jefferson county. He spent short
time in a cell at Fort NIcHenry, when
he was exchanged and returned to
duty in his company.
When the war ended, Mr.. Wilson
was elected professor in Columbian
College. which position Ire held INIT!
1871. White a professor at this col
iege he took the law course in that in
stitution, and graduated in that school
in 1868. In the fail OF 1871, the
Democrats having obtained control in
West Virginia and the lawyers iron
clad oath having been repeated. Mr..
Wilson returned TO Charlestown and
commenced the practice of law. In
1872 he formed partnership with
his cousfhi Capt. George Baylor. He
soon rose to distinction in his pro-
fession and took front stand at tue
bar. Mr.. Wilson was delegate in
1880 to The national Democratic con-
vention Mt Cincinnati, and was chosen
an elector for the State at large on
the Hancock ticket. lie made a
thorough canvass of the State and
established his reputation as an elo-
quent and 8eH-equippcd speaker
In 1882 he was chosen Yice-president
of the University Of West Virginia,
at Morgantown, and entered upon its
dutiesi in the fall that year. Shortly
afterwards he was elected to Con-
gress by the Democrats ofthe second
district of West Virginia, which post
lie has held to the present time, hay
ing been reelected i'll 1884, 1886 and
1883. As a member of Congress lie
has distinguished himself as deba-
ter on the floor and as Il worker on
committees. In the Forty-ninth Con-
gress he was a member of the com
mittee of appropriations, (the second
highest committee and of the ways
and means committee (the highest)
in the FifLicth Congress. For two
terms Mr.. Wilson was member of
kI,o Tyi.t,;;nt ~ IOe,l,,r,I,;, ,c,,,,,. q -,
and performed a vast amount of labor
in the interest OF the District. In the
last House he %as also a member of
the committee on trusts and monop-
olies, and made thorough examin-
alton into these matters. His speech
in favor OF tariff reform in The last
Congress was. more widely circulated
perhaps, than any made in that great
debate, and even such high-tariff
Democrat as Mr.. Henry w. Grady,
of the Atlanta Constitution, said it
was ''the best speech made in Con-
gress for twenty years" Mr.. Wilson
took an active part IN the Fast presi-
dental campaign. addressing large
audiences in the Eastern and Wes-
tern cities. He allowed himself but
few weeks for canvassing his own
district, but, notwithstanding the fact
that he was marked as a victim by
the opponents of tariff revision and
his district was flooded with the ''boo-
die of the millionaire manufacture
ers, he was reelected by handsome
majority.
Benjamin Wilson, the father of
VIM. Lyme Wilson, moved to Jeffer-
son county from Lower Virginia in
early manhood and taught school in
the neighborhood of Middleway. He
was noted for his sterling integrity,
and was in the days OF the old par
ties an open, unfinching and uncom-
promising Democrat. The mother of
Congressman Wilson was also from
Lower Virginia, (King William coun-
tY,) and was the daughter of William
and Elizabeth Lyme, daaghter of
Gregory Baylor, and sister Of Col.
Richard G.. Baylor, the president of
the county court of Jefferson county
from 1901 to 1919. Mfr. wilson s
mother died in 1871, and his aunt,
Miss Lucy Lyme, in 1887.
Mfr. Wilson married Miss Mamie
Huntingdon, the only daughter and
child of the Rev. Dr.. Huntingdon, of
Columbian College, and has By this
marriage six childrer-four sons and
two daughters. Mr.. Wilson is a ripe