Evening star., 1902-05-05

grated to Chester county, Pa. AS the
country developed both families moved to
the west, and before the beginning of the
last century the Wilson's settled in Beaver
county, Pa, and the MERGERS in Columbi-
ana county. Ohio. Mr.. Wilson's parents
were both of the Quaker persuasion. and
throughout their lives continued in har-
mOny with that sect.
After receiving a common school educa-
ton, the young man started out to make
his own way in the world, and apprenticed
himself to David Woodruff in Salem, Ohio
in order to learn carriage making. After
two years he returned to New Brighton and
remained with his parents, working at his
trade until he attained his majority He
then went west. serving as a journeyman
in st. Louis Mo; Troy H., and elsewhere
but finally settled in Marietta. Marshall
county, Iowa, where he followed his trade
by making the heavy plows used for break
ing the new priarie land.
Served as Deputy Clerk of Court.
At that time he was chosen a deputy
clerk of the court. and served during it's
sittings. This experience turned his atten-
tOn to law, and he read Blackstone and
Kent after his days work in the pow
shop, and in that way acquired a fair un-
derstanding of the principles of law, COM
pleting his course in the law Office of Finch
& Crocker, in Des Moines, Iowa. after
which he was admitted to the bar. Return
ing to Marietta he began his legal practice
with considerable success. and at the same
time entered politics, taking active part
in the struggle over county seat. which
terminated, however, with the defeat of
Marietta.
At the beginning of the civil war he en-
listed in the I'd Iowa Cavalry, and pro-
NOTED to be captain but preferrine the in
fantry branch of the service he resigned
and raised a company, of which he was
given command in the 4th Iowa Volunteers
September III, 1864. he was mustered out of
the service, and came to Washington for
the purpose of settling his accounts with
the government in connection with the SER
vice. His success with these claims led to
his forming a legal partnership with
Thomas Corwin of Ohio, which subsequent
ly included William H. Owen and later l..
G. Hine, for the prosecution of claims
aaginst the government. His practice,
while frequently before the local courts
was however principally before the Court of
Claims and the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States. Mr.. Wilson continued to be ac-
lively engaged in legal practice until 1881
when he retired.
Unwilling to remain entirely idle he Sc
cured an appointment as United States con-
sui to Ghent, Belgium, whence after a few
years he was transferred to Nantes and
later to Nice, France
Archaeological Studies.
From his early boyhood he had been in
terested in Indian mounds. and one of the
largest of these prehistoric monuments
which ne often visited was in the imme-
L d.
at Nantes his attention was directed to the
study of prehistoric monuments, in which
Brittany is so rich. and his leisure was de-
voted to the then new science of prehistoric
archaeology, which he took up and pursued
with avidity. He visited all of the mu-
seums and collections in western Europe,
and investigated most of the sites known
for their occupation by prehistoric man.
During his residence in Europe he gathered
both by purchase and as the result of his
thousands of objects pertaining to prehis-
toric archaeology, which he subsequently,
deposited in the United States National
Museum. He also became acquainted with
many of the distinguished European sa-
wants. and was elected to their scientific
societies.
Soon after his return from abroad DR.
| Charles Rau, the curator of antiquities in
the United States National Museum died
and Mr.. Wilson. in 1881, became his sue
cess0r- in which place he continued up to
Mr.. Wilson had been one of the foremost
advocates of popular instruction in the
science of anthropology. and besides lee
turing had devoted considerable time to
the preparation of papers on that subject,
among which may be mentioned the fol-
lowing: "A Study of Prehistoric Anthropol-
ogy ussS), Results of an Inquiry as to
the Existence of Man in North America
During the Paleolithc Period of the stone
Age QSss): Criminal Anthropology"
tis'W, primitive Industry 0s92> Minute
stone implement from India (1S!}2), 1.-The
| Swastika. the Earliest Known Symbol"
QS95); prehistoric Art. or the Origin of
Art as Manifested in the Works of Prehis-
toric Man. 0S9O, and "Arrowpoints.
Spearheads and Knives of Prehistoric
Time 0S9S), all of which have been con-
tributed to the publications of the United
States National Museum.
Active Interest in Science.
In connection with his museum work he
was called upon to install the exhibits of
the department of prehistoric anthropology
at the Cincinnati exposition in 1885, and
he also had much to do with the subse-
| quent displays of his department at the
/ worlds fair in Chicago and at the exposi-
| tions in Atlanta. Nashville and elsewhere
! He was sent to Paris delegate from
| the Smithsonian Institution to the tenth
! international congress of anthropology and
| prehistoric archaeology in 1889. and also
/ took advantage of that opportunity to
| study the worlds fair held in Paris dur
| ing that year. In 1892 he visited the CO.
| lumbian historical exposition held in Mad
! rid, where he received two medals and
was named a commander in the Order of
! Isabella la Catolica He served on the
| jury of awards at the worlds Columbian
! exposition in Chicago in 1893, and passed
| upon all of the exhibits in the Convent Of
| L3 Rabida. He was one of the commits
| SiOnerS the eXnpSitiDp be} In, a}v