The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-20
IN GR|EF'S SHADOW
The Death of DR.. Thomas
J. Wilson, Senior, at
Chapel Hill.
Special to News and Observer)


Chapel Hill, Sept. 19.-At four
o'clock this afternoon shadow was
cast over this little town when the
news went out that DR.. Thomas j.
Wilson, ST., had bIJathed his last
breath. Death was caused by some
brain trouble with which he had peen
battling for about two weeks AL tldt
time he was returning from VISIT
to one of his patients and was ren-
dered unconscious by the severity
of the attack and never remembered
reaching home.
The funeral services will be con,
Quoted tomorrow at $3.50 y. M, at his
late residence under the direction or
the Masonic order, Rev Mr.. Moss, OF
the Presbyterian church, officiating
The remains will be inferred III the
Chapel Hill cemetery.
OF DR.. Wilson neighbor
said this evening: "He has
done more charitable pracuclnS
perhaps, than any doctor in Norm
Carolina, ] never saw better man 10
poor people in my life. He has been
called to every home in this section
of the country and has never refused
a call. He was a full, free, big heart
ed man of the old type, and sacrlnced
his life to his practice. He was very
popular and universally liked all over
this county. This whole section Will
mourn his death"
DR.. T. M. Jordan, of Raleigh, gives
tho following sketch of his life:
DR.. Wilson was born in Pennsylva-
MIA about seventy-three years ago,
Long before the War Between the
States his father moved to North Car
DINA and settled in Orange county,
where they lived to ripe old age. no
studied medicine and before the war
was practicing while during the war ne
was a surgeon of the Confederate
army, and it was during his service
that he me Miss Margaret Ross, OF
Gordonsville. Va, whom he afterWarG
married and brought to his adopted
home in North Carolina. This unloU
was blessed with a large family, part
of whom have crossed the river before
papa and surviving are Misses Mary,
Alice. Agnes and Fannie Wilson, OF
Chapel Hill, Mrs. BraXton Craige, or
Rocky Mount n. c., and DR.. Thos. j.
Wilson, of the University of North
Carolina.
Dr.. Wilson practiced medicine for
a number of years in the northern
part of Orange county, later he moved
to Hillsboro, where for number OF
years he enjoyed large practice. Dp-
ing the eighties he moved to Ashe-
Vile where he remained for less than
year, returning to his first love, old
Orange, and settled in Chapel Hill. His
was a busy life. and one of constant
devotion to his progression. If those
he served for naught but love of
humanity could pay loving tribute
by placing flowers upon his grave
there would be the largest funeral
ever witnessed in North Carolina. He
was never too weary, the road was
never too long and the night too dark
or cold for him to respond to the
call of the afflicted. He was unpre'
tentious, not given to many words and
in a long acquaintance with him, ]
never knew him to lose his temper
and | never heard. or heard of mn
saying an unkind word to any per-
son, or even scold at any of the lower
order of animals Indeed his was
sweet, and kindly disposition His par
ents were OF the Presbyterian faith,
and he followed in their footsteps and
was a close an dconstant attendant at
church when his professional work
did not forbid. His life was life of
love, his work he regarded as this
duty, and up until only few weeks
before he took his bed, though ms
friends saw that the arduouS duties
he was so faithful to were more than
his strength allowed, he still presS@l
on, and it may be said that he was at
his Masters work when called His
last visit to Raleigh was during the
last State Fair. when the reunion or
the old soldiers attracted him here,
and he seemed to enjoy the felloWshlH
of his old comrades. as much as
younger soldier would. Kindness was
natural, and love his companion, and
he will reap the reward Of his seWinS
THOS. M. JORDAN,
Raleiph n q.