Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-11
HIS LIFE WORK.
Resolutions on Judge Wilson's
Death Presented
TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.
A Review of His Life by Judge White.
Appointed to ONCE by Governor
Roberts in 1ss2-His Sub
sequent Career.

Roberts in 1SS2-Hfs Sub
sequent Career.
Special to the Gazette
GALVESTON. TEX, Feb 10-Hon. R. II.
Harrison, assistant attorney-general,in pre-
senting TO the court OF appeals the resolu-
tions touching Judge Wilson's death, made
an appropriate address.
Hon. John P. White, presiding judge OF
the court of appeals, responded 20 the ad-
dress as follows:
To each member of the court it is indeed
a mournful pleasure to be permitted in this
public and solemn manner 10 sYmpathize
with the resolutions you offer, and the
sentiments you have so feelngly expressed
with regard to the death of the Hon. Sam
uel a. Wilson.
On the 18th day of May, 1882, Judge Will
son was appointed by Gov. O.. M. Roberts
to.a seat upon the bench of this court, made
sTaeant by the death of Hon. @. NJ. WInkler;
a position he occupied until the first day Of
February, 1891, when he resigned that he
might retnEu the practice of his profess
sslop,ssf e4ously thereto, a7vacancy having
sfted in the reportership of the court
On the 3lst of January, 1891, by the resig-
nation of our esteemed and distinguished
brother the Hon. a. NJ. Jackson, Jr., Judge
Wilson was rendered that position and
having accepted the same was appointed
reporter for the court of appeals on the
9th 3ay of February, lS9l-fye days after
hisafesignation from the bench. This latter
aElce he was heldlng at the time of his
sdeath, which occurred at his home IN Rusk,
Cherokee county, Texas, on the morning of
Sunday, the 24th day of January, 1892. So
that, with the exception of the five days
mentioned, he was an officer of this court
continuously for more than ten years, nine
years of which, lacking a few months, as
Judge upon this bench.
Under these circumstances his death, so
universally lamented by the bench, the bar
and the people Of the entire state, IS natur-
ally most sad, sad blow to us, VINO for this
long period of years were thus intimately
associated with him IN our labors, and
bound to him by the duties devolving upon
the court. During this long period he not
ouly shared our work and participated IN
our tolls, but to each of US was companion
and guide, to whom we became attached by
the closet and hottest ties of friendship BY
day and by night, in season and out of
season, in the council chamber and in the
privacy of his own apartments, we never
hesitated to call upon BIN when we needed
assistance and advice, and he never failed
US. We leaned upon him as tower of
strength, and in no single instance did he
ever dlsappoint us.
Judge Wilson was born in San Augustine
county, Tex, on the 18th day of January,
1885, and as a native, he gloried in his state
and was proud of her people. At the early
age of seventeen years his disabilities of
minority were removed by the state legisla-
ture that he might assume and enter upon
the duties of manhood and engage in the
practice of law. at nineteen he married.
Strict attention to and fidelity in his bust
ness relations soon made him known in
Southeast Texas as most promising young
attorney. Before the war he was elected
to and filed the Office of district attorney.
For four years during the war he was a
gallant and distinguished soldier of the
FAlebratM Hoods Texas brigade in the
SarruFs of Northern Virginia. He suffered
ths,cGfimon experience of most of that d
voted band OF patriots, was wounded mote
thar once, was captured al Gettysburg aDA
fof months suffered the hardships ana pri-
vsifionS.oFa prisoner at Fort Delaware
eshfSfhe clore of the war he returned home
penniless, but with industry and energy
soon. Ssquired a valuable practice at the
.laW He was elected member of the con-
stitutional convention in 1866, serving with
distinction as member of that body in its
efforts to restore the state to her relations
with the Federal government, and subse-
quently after the adoption of the constitu-
ton it framed and at the first general cleo
ton held Hereunder he was elected district
Judge of his district, being one of the young
est Judges who had ever sat upon the
bench in Texas. His occupancy of this
Office was, however, of short duration, for
within the brief space of some eighteen
months or more the state government was
destfeyed, and he, togo Their with the entire
cerFs of state officers, was removed as ian
iIfpediment to reconstruction, President
aohnson's policy having been overthrown
Fby congress and the state relegated to a
military despotism.
Again he resumed his practice of the law,
arc as lawyer and citi2ep, ne was always
prominent as the protector of the people
against the wrongs and expressions of those
dark and perilous times. After the re-
storation of the state government by the
adoption of the constitution of 1869 he was
a second time elected district attorney in
his judicial district and served the people in
that capacity until the expiration of his
term, making a state reputation as an able,
faithful upright, honest and impartial
prosecutor, fearless in his denuuciations of
crime and at the same time strictly jealous
of the safety of the citizen in his rights of
life and liberty.
n In 1876 an ordinance of the legislature was
passed providing for the revision and codi-
fication of the laws of the state. Under
this ordinance, Judge Wilson was one of
the five commissioners appointed by Gov
ernor Coke. That work was most success
fully completed in 1879. was adopted the
same year and with such amendments as
have since been passed, is still in force.
During all these years after his early mar
rage he dwelt in a home which he built
for himself near the town of Rusk in Chero-
kee county. There he lived and spent the
time he could spare from his labors in the
enjoyment of domestic peace, SURF ounded
by his family His children were
born and reared in that home;
all his affections clustered around
it. 1t was an transformations but comfort
able and happy home and no man ever more
thoroughly appreciated his home and the
society of his loved ones than he. Appro-
PIRATE as summary Of the phases of his
ssfafas 1 have hurriedly sketched it thus
far, am reminded of the beautiful language
of that finished orator. Edward Everett, in
his eulogium upon George Washington:
''F'rom beneath the humble roof went forth
the intrepid and unselfsh warrior-the
magistrate who knew no glory but his
country's good to that he returned happi-
est when his work was done. There he
lived in humble implicity-there he died