Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-27
Ben WILSON DEAD, At
THE AGE Of SEVENTY SIX.
ONE OF THE STATES MOST DIS
TINGUISHED AND VALUABLE
CITIZENS GONE.
A LAWYER AND A STATESMAN
OF RENOWN, AND A FAITHFUL
SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE IN
EVERY CAPACITY.

CLARKSBURG, w. Va, April 90
The death of Col Benjamin Wilson oc-
Cured this morning at his home in this
city, due to paralysis by which he was
stricken on Tuesday evening. The de-
ceased was one of the States most dis
tinguished sons, an eminent lawyer and
statesman and politician with few
equals.
Hon. Benjamin Wilson was born In
Harrison county, Virginia, April 80,
1925; educated at the Northwestern
Academy at Clarksburg; attended law
school at Staunton, Virginia; was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1S48; served as
Commonwealth attorney for Harrison
county from 1852 to 1850; member of
Constitutional Convention of Virginia
in 1861; was Presidential electoral
large on the Democratic ticket of 1868;
member of the West Virginia Constl-
tutional Convention that met at Char
lesion in 1872; was made a delegate
at-large to the Democratic national
convention at Baltimore in 1872. that
nominated Horace Greeley for Presi-
dent; elected as Representative to the
Fortyfourth Congress from the First
district, with 1898 votes, against 12,-
631 for Nathan Golf, Jr., Republican;
reelected to the Forty fifth Congress,
receiving 1902 votes against 16,067 for
Charles F. Scott, Republican, serving
f,nr hnr A
elected to Congress in 1880, defeating
John A. Hutchinson, the Republican
candidate; was appointed Assistant
United States Attorney in the Depart
ment of Justice at Washington by
Grover Cleveland till superseded in
1889. He was in the employ of the
government as attorney in settling the
French spoliation claims.
Colonel Wilson served his constit-
uents in Congress in most efficient
manner. He was constantly at his post
of duty, and was attentive, courteous
and polite to all with whom he came
in contact in the discharge of his pub
lie and private duties as a citizen and
Representative.
AS politician Mr.. Wilson was con-
Spicuous success. No candidate knew
his constituency better IAN he, and no
man in the First West Virginia district
had more friends. Alert, keen, watc---
full, courteous and obliging, not even
Nathan Golf could beat him at the polls,
for ne possessed hold upon the voters
for years that made nlm an invincible
candidate, and even later he was rival
not to be despised. LIS knowledge of
men and affairs was remarkable, and
his capacity for work phenomenal,
while as an orator ne ranked high up
among those politicians of both parties
who, in and out of Congress, made West
Virginia famous. His public addresses
well deserve the designation of models,
and his grasp upon great questions was
comprehensive, and his arguments were
ever strong and his explanations lucid.
AS a lawyer he was no less successful
than as a politician, and his record at
the bar was one any man might well
be proud of. Many big cases occupied
hls attention before both the State and
Federal Courts, and his technical
knowledge of the law was in thorough
keeping with his knowledge of human
nature and his untiring industry. AS a
business man also, Mr.. Wilson was con-
spicuous, and he was the moving spirit.
or late years, in many enterprises hav-
ing for their object the development of
the resources of his native State
The fact is, Benjamin Wilson was a
manysided man, and the elements of
sonally he was a congenial friend, COM
OH :,
was ever a warm one. Business, poll
tics or the practice of his profession
brought him to Wheeling hundreds of
times over a period of more than a
quarter of a century. and his was a
familiar figure about the streets, at the
hotels, or in the newspaper offices. OF
late, during the past two or three years.
these visits were more infrequent than
before, yet occasionally he was to be
seen in the city where he had won vic
tories at the bar or on the hustings.
and not even in his native town will
there be wider or more general re-
greet at his passing away from earth
OF Col Wilson's life a volume might
we'll be written, and it would be inter
estlng reading. His experiences within
bAiC oNdbc "ClO bOSu Widt anu fGIltU-
and at Washington he was, during his
career in Congress and afterwards. a
strong element and a forceful person
age. much of -.4s life, between 1870 and
1880, was passed at the national cap
ital, and his acquaintanceship with the
foremost men of the country was wide.
and he formed and maintained many
important friendships. There. as in
Nheenng, his death will be sincerely
regretted.
Up to the time of his last illness Col.
Wilson retained his usual health and
vigor, and his min. was clear and ac-
tive. The end was not unexpected. and
the family were at his bedside.
Col Wilson was married twice. his
first wife being Miss Mary Marol. of
this county, and his second wife Miss
Lovilla Rittenhouse. a daughter of the
late Bennett Rittenhouse. OF these
marriages two sons and one daughter
are left surviving. They are Matthew
Wilson and Joseph Wilson, living in
Mexico, and Mrs. John w. Brown. liy-
ing in this city. The funeral will be
held Sunday.