The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-23
IN MEMORIAM.

ative of Col Kit Carson, United States
army, who was famous as the great
pathfinder and explorer of the Rocky
Mountains. Dr. Wilcox was twice mar
ried His first wife was Miss MARTHA
Worth, q niece of the late Governor
Worth. The only child by this union
is Mrs. William Barber of Wilkesboro,
Y. G.. In 1875 he married Margaret. n
granddaughter of the Hon. Louis D.
Henry. There are six children by this
marriage-three sons and three daugh
tiers. He graduated in medicine with
the highest distinction at the University
of Baltimore. He possessed rare intel
lectual gifts. He had clear, forceful,
logical mind that went straight to the
heart of any subject that he touched. AS
public speaker he had few snowy or
brilliant qualities. but his speeches were
replete with common sense, f0rcilbe and
effective He illumined and enriched
any subject that he discussed, and never
failed deeply to impress his audience. He
was man of striking, magnetic pres
Ience. No man ever had stronger friends
He seemed to act upon the advice given
by Polonius to his son:
'The friends thou hast, and
Their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul
With hoops of steel"
In the practice of his profession he
was masterful. He had few equals. and
certainly no superiorS in North Carolina.
His perceptions were quick and accurate,
and his judgment was almost unerring.
He was rarely mistaken as to the dag
noSls or treatment of any case with
which he was connected. He had a very
large practice in Ashe county and in the
adjoining counties. He was a tirel6ss
practitioner. He took little rest, work
ing night and day, and sleeping but
four or five hours out of the twenty-four.
His sacrifices for his patients were enor-
nous. and, in all probability, shortened
his life. He died with his armor on,
facing the foe courageously ministering
to the wants of suffering humanity.
Many of his patients were very poor
from whom he neither received nor eX-
pected any compensation. Hundreds Of
Gods little ones will miss his wise coun-
sci, his helping hand, his loving minis
trations. His reward is sure. 'Inasmuch
as We have done it unto one of the least
of these my brethren. We have done it
unto me-" In all the relations of life
Dr. Wilcox was just, manly, honest, mer-
ciful, sincere in all that he said and did
HE moved on straight lines from point
to point; and in all things, and at all
times bore himself directly and erectIy."
His domestic life was singularly happy.
He idolized his wife and children. He
had an ideal home. nesting among the
mountains, where, with his charming fam
lily, he loved to dispense a princely hos
pitality. But the strong staff is broken.
Death is the great commoner. He levels
all distinctions. Earth to earth. ashes
to ashes, dust to dust" The writer off
ciated at his burial. More than hun
dred and fifty persons We're present, not
a few of them poor people whom he had
helped, who knew him and loved him. 1t
was touching sight. 1t was the strong
est possible proof of the esteem and af-
faction inv hich he was held. They
who knew him best loved him most. AT
the burial of great Englishman fifty
poor people, to whom he had been kind,
came to his grave to throw sprigs of
evergreen upon his coffin. "This," says
one of his friends, sis nobler memorial
than the Nelson monument" He is
right At the burial of DR.. Wilcox hun
dItuS VI pun pDOlhts " VIM hC IiI
been more than kind, came to his grave
to show their respect and affection for his
memory. Each one seemed to feel that
his death was q personal bereavement.
He being dead yet speaketh. The entire
State becomes a looser by the death of
such a man. In the beginning of his i'll
ness, DR.. Wilcox seemed to have a pre-
sentiment of his death. When he was
fold Of bio nOn1ino
Congress by the convention in Wilkes
boro he begged his friends to say no more
about it-that he wished only to make
preparation for death. We cannot doubt
that he died Gin the confidence of a GER
tain faith, in the comfort of reasonable,
religious and holly hope, in favor with
God, and in perfect charity with the
world"
The ways of Providence are indeed
inscrutable. DR.. Wilcox died in the full
ness of his powers, in the maturity of
his strength, with every faculty ripened
and mellowed for the highest usefulness
to God and man. Gods ways are not as
mans ways. But this we knOw-and
! the reflection should be source Of inf
mite strength and comfort to us-that the
Judge of all the earth can do no wrong"
WIN no less truth tnaH Deauty mas IL
been said that the well which hides the
face of futurity is woven by the hand of
mercy" The ceremony of the Odd Eel
lows, at the conclusion of the burial SER
vices, was most appropriate, beautiful
and impressive. We left our dear brother
sleeping upon the mountain top, amid the
friends and the scenes he loved so WELL
with his face turned towards the rising
sun in hope of a joyful resurrection at the
last day.
JAMES A. WESTON.
Wilkesboro, n. c., Oct Is, 1898.
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