St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-17

William Griffin, represented in congress
a district comprising the western por
ton of Virginia. Eugene M. Wilson
was educated at Jefferson college, and
stood high in his classes, not less as
student than as a speaker and writer.
A. eighteen he graduated, and at once
began the study of law in his fathers
office, being admitted to the bar when
Jwenty-One.
At that time Minnesota offered strong
attractions to the young and ambitious
professional mel. who relied on their
own efforts to achieve fame and fortune.
Many of this class came from Maryland
anu some from Virginia, among the
latter Mr.. Wilson. In the spring Of 1856
he came to the new territory and opened
law office at WinOna, forming part
nership with William Mitchell, now Oh
the state supreme bench. The firm name
was Wilson & Mitchell. and among
Mr.. Wilson's associates and friends in
Winona at that time were Hon. William
Window and Daniel Norton, both after
wards United States senators. while
Mr.. Window is at present secretary of
the treasury in President HarrisOn's
cabinet; Hon. Thomas Wilson, after
chief justice of the state and member of
congress-; Hon. Charles Berry. first at
torney general of the state, and many
other young men who. since have be-
come well known in state and national
life.
Mr.. Wilson's ability speedily brought
him large practice, and in 1857 he was
made United States district attorney by
President Buchanan. diScharging sits
duties most acceptably for four years.
By this time his business was of SO im
portant character as to require his
residence nearer the capital than Wi
nopa. and so, in the fall of 1857, he
come to Minneapolis, then a small VII
lage, but in whose future lie is said TO
have had great faith. In 1861 he assO-
ciated himself in the practice of law
with Hon. w. W. McNair. In 1869 he
was elected to congress from the old
Third district. In 1862 he enlisted as
captain in the First Minnesota cavalry,
and served in the Indian war.
His congressional record was brill
liant one. On the tariff bill, Georgia
reconstruction bill, and other measures
of national interest that came uD dur
ing his term he made brilliant speeches
and put himself in way to become the
leader of his party in the house. He
returned to Minneapolis at the close of
his term and engaged again in the
pIutJiC vi idWs hUuuU bilIo tiliO hO
formed a law partnership which con-
tinued until his death with John W.Law-
renee, grandson of Gen. Lawrence, of
Syracuse, N.Y.,in his day one of the best
lawyers in the East. Mr.. Lawrence's
father lost his life in the late war as
soldier of the Union. The firm of Will
son Il Lawrence has always been one
of the leading law firms in Minneapo
lis. and list of the important cases
with which it has had to do will be
greater tribute than can be paid in
sketch as brief as this.
In 1872. when st. Anthony was con-
solidated with Minneapolis, Mr.. Wilson
was elected mayor and reelected in
1874. In 1878 and 1879 he was in the
state senate, serving on some OF its
most important committees, and show
ing himself leader. During the sue
ceeding eight years he did not enter
into public life, bbt attended assidu-
Ously to his legal practice until the fall
of 1888, when he accepted the
ernor and led the forlorn hope
of his party in Minnesota.
when Republican success in presi-
Dental campaign was foregone con-
clusion. Mr.. Wilson's legal business,
especially Of late years. assumed vast
proportions,a and there has hardly been
a case of striking Importance in Henne-
pin county upon which his services
were not employed rpon one side or
another. In 1865 he M lied Miss Eliza
beth Kimball, daugt er of Col. Will
lam Kimball. at Minneapolis, and
their union has been blessed with three
children. His home at 1900 Hawthorne
avenue has been one of the most hos
pitabe mansions in the city, and, with
his estimable wife, he has always been
prominent in social life. He was a
Knight Templar, and member of the
e. A. r. and the Loyal Legion.