The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1905-06-07
Ex-aovERnOR WILSON DEAD.
universal Sorrow Felt by BIS Many
Friends Throughout the
Mr.. WILSON'S CAREER

Mr.. Wilson'S CAREER
In 1910 there came to the United
States from England an II.yeaf,
old boy named James Fitzgerald
Wilson. who settled and grew tc
manhood in Jefferson county, Va
where he met and married Maria
Spangler, of SCOTCH descent. of Re
evolutionary ancestry. whose grand
father served in the Continental
army.
Emanuel Willis Wilson was the
third son of a family of six
children. He was born at Har-
per's Ferry. Va. Aug. IL. 1914. He
was educated in the common
schools finishing with aconrse Of
DIZZINESS col
sIege.
In 1866 he energetioally entered
upon the study of Law. without an
instructor, at home. and in 1869
was admitted to practics in his ma
tive county. In connection with
his legal studies he pursued a
course of thorough general reading
and study, which be has ever con
tinued. A Washington journal
said of him: "He is to day. in gen.
eral, scientific. historical and poll.
tical information. as we'll as in lit
erary requirements, one of the most
thoroughly equipped men in his
state /"
Rapidly achieving leading po-
sition at the bar and before the
people. in 1870 Mr.. Wilson was
elected to represent Jefferson coun-
ty in the lower house of the legis-
Iature of West Virginia, and in
1872 represented his district in the
stste senate. In that body he be
came conspicuous by his able and
successful opposition to bill for
the transfer of the Kanawha river
to corporation. The bill had pass
I'D the house and was on it's third
reading in the senate on the last
day of the session. Mr.. Wilson OBJ
tanned the floor and spoke the $685.
sion out. thus saving the Kanawha
river from corporate control and
the ay for the magnifi
cent improvement of that stream
by the general government, which
GAS done so much toward develop
ing the state.
He moved to Kanawha county
in 1874, having on April 9th of
the same year married an estima
BILE lady of that county, Mes Hon
rietta S Cotton, daughter of DR.
John 7 Cotton, who was the old
sst praotioing physician of Char.
lesion, who with three daughters
survives him.
In 1876 he was elected to repre-
4ent Kanawha county in the Leg
islature, and again in 1880 Among
{ ther benefcent measures which
ne introduced, were those for the
of miners and laborers
flom the evils of the merchandise
oheok system; to exempt the tools
of mechanics from forced sale or
execution; to secure the inspeo-
ton and ventilation Of mines;
to prohibit unjust discr;miua-
ton in railroad freight charges,
and for the protection of the peo-
pie from fraud and bribery at cleo.
tions.
In the legislature Of 1880 he was
elected speaker. in which position
he displayed q thorough knowledge
If parliamentary rules and practice
and hcted with firm impartiality
and entire satisfaction.
In 1884 Mr.. Wilson was the nom
inee of the Democratic party for
the Governorship and was elected
over the Republican candidate,
Judge Edwin Maxwell. of Clarke
burg by the vote of 1,43s to &C.,
149. He was inaugurated March
4, 1885. succeeding Governor jacob
B. jackson As Governor of West
Virginia the people had no reason
to regret their choice. Fortunate
in having for his state officers. men
selected from the very best. he i'm
proved every department of the
executive; remedied many defects
and weaknesses in the coordinate
branches or greatly neutralized
evils arising outside of his juris.
diction. The imprint of his adj
nlinistration was felt throughout
the State.