The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-10-12

Van Buren, County stalwarts.

Van Buren, County Stalwarts.
Eugene A. Wilson, Republican candi-
date for member of the state board of
education, was born at Ridgeway,
Lenawee county, Mich, Sept. 81, 1854.
William X. Wilson, his father, still
works and resides on the farm of two
hundred acres at Ridgeway, purchased
from the government in the spring of
1881 10y Robert Wilson, his grandfather.
Eugene A. Wilson was sent to the dis
trict school at Ridgeway, and after
wards To the high school at Tecumseh
by his parents, where he graduated in
1875. After completing his course in
the high school, he was obliged To figure
for himself so far as his future educa-
ton was concerned, although having
the very best of home on the farm
when out of school By teaching dis
trict schools during the winter, and by
working on the farm during the sum-
mer, and by borrowing money he
managed to complete the fall classical
course at the Michigan State Normal in
June, 1879.
The next fall he took charge of the
schools at Mount Pleasant, Mich, and
has been continuously engaged as super
intendent of schools in various parts of
the state ever since. During 1890 and
1891 he assumed charge of the schools
of Lenawee county, and raised the
standard of the schools of that county
very much, but was legislated out of
office by the ''squawbucks" in the
spring of 1891. Being offered the super
intendency of the Paw Paw schools the
same year, he accepted, and in 1892
placed the schools of Paw Paw on the
university list of schools, so that grad
yates are now admitted to all courses
of that institution without further ex-
animation. The Paw Paw school board
recognizing his ability, contracted with
him for the next two years as superin-
tendent of their school. Mr.. Wilson's
work as an educator and worker at
teachers institutes throughout the state
has been eminently successful III
chosen to the position for which nomi-
Mated he will bring ripe scholarship
and an extended experience to aid him,
and will faithfully fulfill the trust i'm
posed upon him by the Republican
party of Michigan.
Perhaps no county officer requires
the exercise of better Judgment or more
sound common sense than does that of
sheriff, yet this position has been so
satisfactorily filled by Nathan Thomas
that, with two other candidates in the
field, he received IA denomination this
fall on the first formal ballot.
A brief history of his career begins in
1887 at New Garden, Ohio, in which
place he passed his early years as an
honest country lad, spending his win
tiers in the district school and his sum-
- h 10
fathers farm until about twenty years
of age, at which time he was sent to a
preparatory school at Damascus, Ohio.
After year in this institution, he took
Horace Greeley's advice and went to
Iowa in the spring of 1861, remaining
until fall and in October responding To
the second call for volunteers. He en-
listed for three years in Co. e. of the
10th Kansas infantry, which campaigned
through Missouri and Arkansas, max
ing frequent raids into the enemy's
country and doing good service in pre-
venting all attempts to advance the
boundary line of the Confederacy
though participating in few active en-
gagements. During most of this three
years Mr.. Thomas served his country
faithfully as a private soldier and
though from the very nature of the
campaign there was little opportunity
for great deeds of prowess, the CLOSE
of his term of enlistment found &
sargent's stripes on his sleeve.
When his company disbanded, Sar
gent Thomas returned to his Ohio home
where he remained for four months
but, like the Old war-horse, he scented
the battle from afar and in the spring
of 1865 again enlisted, this time in Co.
of the 19lst Ohio infantry, being raised
TO the rank of LIST Lieut.. before starting
for the field Proceeding up tn,
Shenandoah valley for the purpose o
reinforcing Grants army, the regi
ment had penetrated little beyonC
Winchester, Va, when they received
the glorious news of Lees SURRENDER
and their own Ibsequent recall.
Returning home the young soldier
proceeded to take unto himself wifi,
and settled down as sturdy tiller o
the soil in a neighboring county wher,
he lived two years, removing thence t,
Winona and carrying on the grocery
business for the next year.
Then, in 1870, he came to Michigan
and again engaged in farming nea
Hartford for about six months, whei
he exchanged his farm for hard-war,
store in the village Here he lived fo
the next four years and, having receive,
the appointment of postmaster, a
length disposed of his store. Half
dozen years later, the popular post
master was elected sheriff of our count
and came to Paw Paw in the fall of 1877
After four years of efficient service here
he returned to Hartford, receiving
cordial welcome back both to tin
village and the postoffice.
Another four years rolled by an
Mr. Thomas decided to give his tire
rollicking boys taste of that rural lii
that had helped to gain for himself a
exceptionally vigorous physique, so TIN
next two years was spent upon farm
In the spring of 1890 he moved bac
into the village and that fall was agai
made sheriff of Van Buren, Count,
once more becoming one of Paw Paw
most highly respected citizens.
Thus il will be seen that Mr.. Thoma
life has thrown him into contact wit
many kinds and classes of people an
has been well calculated to give jus
that insight into human nature S
Ill. xF..l n ar