The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-05-03
col. BENJAMIN WILSON'S FUNERAL
Obsequiss Witnessed by Large crowd
ofPeOplo Sketch Of his Life.


Col. Benjamin Wilson's funeral took
place from the Catholic church at J
O'Clock last Sunday afternoon and In,
torment was made in the family lot
in the 1. 90. f. cemetery. The OBJ,
seouies were conducted by Rt. Rev.
Daniel o'Connor, who paid eloquent
tributes to the intellect and character
OF the deceased and spoke words Of
coincidence and sympathy to the bereft
family. The funeral was largely at
tended.
Col. Wilson was born in this county
April 30, 1925, and was son Of Col
Joseph Wilson, whose father was Col.
Benjamin Wilson, Jr., a Revolutionary
soldier. He received his education at
the NorthwesternAcademy in this city
attended law school at Staunton. Va,
and was admitted 10 the bar In 1913.
lie served as Commonwealth attor-
ney for Harrison county from 1852 to
1860. was member Of the convention
held in Richmond, Va, in 1861 to de-
termine whetheror not the state should
secede. In this convention he showed
himself loyal Union man and strong
ly advised and admonished against Sc
cessIon. He was Presidential elector-
at-large on the democratic ticket in
1858, a member Of the West Virginia
Constitutional Convention in Charles
ton in 1872, which framed the present
constitution Of the state, and a dele
gate-at, large to the democratic ma.
tional convention in Baltimore In 1872
which nominated Horace Greeley for
President OF the United States. In
1874 he was elected to the Forty
Fourth congress over Nathan Gotf .Jr.,
and began his congressional career In
December 1875. He was again elected |
TO congress in 1876 over Charles +.
Scott, republican, and reelected In
ls7Sover John R.Hubbard and again in
1880 over John A. Hutchinson. His
congressional career ended at the ex-
piration Of this term UMarch 4, 1883.
Under President Cleveland's admins
tration he was appointed assistant
United States Attorney in the Depart
mont Of Justice until superseded in
1889. at which time he retired from
public life, except for short period
when he was employed by thegovern-
ment as attorney In settling the French
Spoliation claims.
In public life Col. Wilson was not
only true to his party and its princi-
pies but he was equally true to the
best interests Of his entire constituency
irrespective of politics, as he saw them.
He was conscientious in all his under
and official acts and was ever
found at the post of duty. He let no
pass to do his state good
service. His rare intelligence, courte-
GUS, considerate manner, personal
and splendid physique at
tracted to him leading statesmen and
financial men OF his day, with wh)m
his words OF wisdom had great weight.
AS politician there have been few
in the state more successful. None
have known their constituency better
than ne did. Thesecret OF his success
in this was largely due to the fact that
he cultivated wide acquaintanceship
and once he knew you it was forever.
His capacity for work was llmitless, his |
energy inexhaustable, his courage I'M
daunted, his knowledge comprehensive
and complete. his zeal boHndlcss and
his manipulation Of his fellows inf
nitely superb. AS an orator he ranked
with the hest. AS debatcr he was
a giant, and as reaSoner most power
ful, lucid and effective.
AS a lawyer Col. Wilson'S record was
no less brilliant. In early manhood he
formed the habit OF close application
and work. AS he grew older his mind
developed into one Of the foremost
ever ut the bar in West Virginia In
criminal law at one time ia his life
there was probably no one who could
cope successfully with him He re-
tanned in large measure that brillancy
of intellect, stability Of character and
strength Of physique until almost the
very last, Notwithstanding his advanc-
ed age OF 76 years, and had ii not been