The Washington times., 1906-10-07
General Wilson'S BirthdOY,
Is SiXIN-NinC Years Young
He Continues ActivelyAt
Work for Welfare of
City.
Is Admired in All Parts
of Country Where
He is Known.


man who has written into the term ~.
S. A. retired" a new dehpluon, and
has made 1t signify fresh iabors, un-
eeasing industry, and great accom-
plishments-
Tomorrow evening at $50 O'Clock
Gen. John NJ Wilson. Corps of En-
gineers, United States army. Will com
plete his sixty-nlnth year. In keeping
with the character of the man, who
has won medal for conspicuous gal
lantry In action, and since his reUire-
ment has. achieved many civic nonors,
he will observe the day without osten-
tatiOn or special ceremony, The con-
graulations Of his many friends from
all parts of the country VIII be suftl-
cient celebration of his entering upon
his SEVENTEEN year.
But what makes the event especially
worthy OF mention Is not what General
Wilson hes done in the past. but what
he is doing now and what he viii do
in the future. No other man in the
District OF Columbia, perhaps is so
taken up with projects for the public
good as Is the general. Retired from
his chosen profession by the mechanical
workings OF the law five years ago.
he laid aside hls military uniform and
entered upon civic, charitable. and pub
lic-spirited terprises-enterprise which
he has helped forward and 10 which he
gives his attention daily.
Rather Wear Out Than Rust Out.
when LEFT the army" ne said to
q Congress. .Onal committee last win
ter, "I deciaad that l had rather wear
out than rust out
-. q A -Hra
ing out is describing mildly his many
activities In behalf of the National
Capital
The story cf John NJ Wilson's life
presents a great sameness in one way
and a great surprise IN another. The
sameness consists in the uninterrupted
manner in which he advanced and made
friends, whether he was in the East
OF in the West. whether he toiled on
the field OF battle or labOred IN his office
Tor the good Of tho army. The sur
prise is the number or things he has
done. the number Of undertakings that
ha has completed.
The general is WashingtOnian
through and through, His father was
born on + street. and he was born on
q. street near where Epiphany Church
now stands. 1t Vas IN Epiphany
Church. by the way, that the beautiful
and charming young lady, Miss Augusta
b. Waller, became his bride.
Became Senate Page.
Contrary To custom the general >
first step IA public life was TO enter
the Senate Of the United states. lie
went there as a page on the Tlrst Mon
day Ia December, 1913. and stayed there
lour years. he was there In the Jime
OF such statesmen as Clay Calhoun,
Foote. Jefferson Davis. ard Benton.
Tne young boy, who attended 10 his
duties well In the day went 10 school
al uight, and was liked by the eminent
statesmen. AIr. Seward was especially
kind 10 MIN. and many an afternoon,
when the days session was over, Jack
Wilson was given the privilege Of rid
ing Mr.. Stewards horse.
one other thing he saw In those days
he has never forgotten. That was the
dav when the irasclbIe Foote drew his
pistol on Benton on the floor of the
Senate.
Given Appointment TO West Point.
After four years as page. young
Wilson went TO California, going out
with one of the California Senators.
From that State he worked his way
up through Oregon and finally reached
Columbia. Washington Territory. He
mad not been there long when he de
cided TO enter the United States army.
Without much difficulty, being known
out West for his industry and sterling
worth, and being remembered in Wash
H. 81. HFHrru
q boy. he was appointed cadet 20
West Point BY the Washington Terri
tory delegate in 1850
lie was graduated in 1850 and was pro-
NOTED 10 brevet second lieutenant Of ar
tinery, July !, 1850.
II IS curious TO note that about this
time occurred one of the paradoxes in
the generals career. His FIRST warrant
as a cadet was issued 10 him by JeffeT-
son Davis, then Secretary Of Wac for
the United States, and later President
OF the ConfedeTa0y, and his FIRST COM
mission as an o1icer was signed by
Abraham Lincoln. President Of toe Unit
ed States during the war Of the rebellion.
Twice Promoted for Services.
Twice during the war he was promoted
for gallant and meritorious services,
once at the battle OF Gaines Mil. Va,
and once at the battle Of Malvern HiH,
Va. II was for his bravery in action
at Malvern Hill that he was given the
medal for gallantry.
or the young officers rapid rise in
the army, Of his services on the battle
held. in army posts in various parts OF
the country, and of lis services in this
city as head of the Corps of Engineers.
and I'm charge of the construction OF
many public buildinGS, much has been
written. II is 10 his achievements ana
many duties in the civic fields, since his
retirement, that public interest turns.
The following is the generals civil
history" in an abbreviated form, show
ing how he is esteemed by Presidents
and the highest men of the country:
Generals Civil History.
Degree OF LID. conferred by Colum-
bian University. 1890
Member of American Society of Civil
Engineers 1855 TO 1891.
Past president of the Society Of Civil
Engineers. of Cleveland. Ohio.
Member OF the Federal commission In
1903 20 investigate the disaster TO the
steamer General Clocufn IN New York