Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-07
OBITUARY.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Rev. Alexander G. Wilson.

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Rev. Alexander G. Wilson.
Key. Alexander G.. Wilson,D. D., died
on Wednesday, May A, 1904. He was
the eldest son of the late Allen Wilson
OF Ottumwa, and brother of Mrs. l.. e.
Rogers, corner of Market and Cara
streets.
DR., Wilson was born in Clarion coun-
W, Pennsylvania February 7, 1896. He
attended the Elderridge academy and
graduated from Jefferson college in
1855. After teaching one year in the
academy at Beaver, Pa, he went south,
locating in Natchez, Miss. There he
was engaged in educational work six
years with very marked success and
popularity. He was loyal union man
but prudent in speech After the
breaking out of the war and the clos
ing of the lines, he, in company with
six other Northern men, was held an
unwilling resident of the city for over
two years Three times he was draft
Ell into the confederate army but on
Two occasions was able to purchase his
release by furnishing q substitute and
the third time secured his release be-
cause OF the fact that he was a men,
Der OF the Masonic order. During all
this time he was continued at the
head of the institute and his value to
this institution made it easier
for him to make his escape from
the confederate service and perhaps
saved his life. When Vicksburg fell he
was accidentally met and recognized
by w. l.. Orr, of this city, who was sur.
geon of General Ransoms corps and
was saved from Imprisonment.
After the fall Of Vicksburg
he came north to Ottumwa where his
father and family were by this time
residing. He spent two years in the
theological seminary in Chicago and
was licensed to preach by the presby-
terry of Fairfield in 1864. After about
ten years of pastoral service in Illinois
he was called to Fairfield as one of
the first professors in the founding of
Parsons college. Two years later he,
was called to a professorship in Lake
Forest university where he was on
duty some ten years. He was for five
years president of Lenox college, Hop
kinton, la. In recent years he has
been pastor of the church at Tekaham,
Neb., and at the same time hold
Ing a professionally in the Presbyte-
rian theological seminary at Omaha.
For some months past DR.. Wilson
had been in declining health, although
still meeting his classes in the theo-
logical seminary. He died Sin the
harness" in 1904, at the age
of g. He was a man Of
excellent scholarship, of good execu-
tive ability, and very superior in
structor. He was moderator of the
synod Of Illinois in the famous Patton
and Swing trial,and managed the de-
alterations of that body with great
ability and fairness. Dr.Wilson leaves
widow and five children. The two
older sons are missionaries in western
India, the youngest son, now at home,
was a soldier in the Philippines, a
daughter is a teacher in New York
City, and her younger sister is princi-
pal Of city schools at Bellevue. Neb.
'ss #,sS J. M. M.
Jane Shalfin Woodward, daughter of
John and Mary Woodward, was born in
Chester, county. Pennsylvania, Octob-
err /, 1887 and departed this life April
30, 1904, at the home of her son G. s.
Frescoln, aged 81 years, months, A
days. She was married to Leonard
Frescoln June /, 1854. Mr.. Frescoln
preceded her to the other world IN
1875. To this union were born nine
children, eight sons and one daughter
three Of whom survive her. G, S.. of
Batavia, Joseph K. of Smithfeld, Neb..
and Ellen of Delta. Colorado. Besides
her children she leaves twenty-three
grandchildren and host of friends to
mourn her death. Mrs. Frescoln with
her husband moved to Star county,
Ohio, about the year 1856 where they
resided eight years, when she moved
with her family to Jefferson county,
Iowa, where she continued to reside
until the close Of her life. Mrs Fres-
coin united with the Missionary Bap-
fist church at the age of is and re-
NAMED a firm believer of her faith
through life.
The funeral services were conduct
ed May in the Methodist Episcopal
church in Batavia by Rev. j. A. Sin
clair pastor of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. Interment was made in |
the city cemetery.
the city cemetery. ]. A. s.