Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-11-11
Half Century of Married Life

| Wilson in Washington street was the
| scene of happy family reunion Satur'
day and also the golden wedding cele-
bration of Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson. The
| occasion was a joyful one for the
members of the family, and as well
for the neighbors and friends who
called to offer congratulations. Mr..
| and Mrs. Wilson have been residents
| of WatertoWn for almost half CEN
| tury and are among the best known
| families in the city, their we'll known
hospitality gaining for them hosts OF
| friends in WatertoWn and vicinity.
| Mr.. Wilson enjoys remarkably good
| health, as did also the partner of his
| joys and sorrows until a few years ago
when failing health crept oD apace,
depriving her of the many little priv
ileges of social life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson were married
in Milwaukee November 5, 1860, the
| Rev. Father Donohue officiating at
the Cathedral, and seven children
were born Of the union, five of whom
are living, and several grandchildren.
The children are: William Wilson,
| Andrew Wilson, George Wilson, Chi
cago; Henry Wilson and Frank Will
son, Milwaukee, all of whom were
present to form a happy reunion.
Mr.. Wilson was born in Yorkshire,
England in 1880 and came to Buffalo,
| N. Y. in 1851, where he worked as a
| butcher three years, returning to
England on the death of his father.
| He again came to America and work
| ed for the Layton Meat company in
Milwaukee in 1855, coming to Water
town in 1856. With the exception of
six years spent in Columbus, he has
resided in this city ever since. For
several years he was manager of the
Stoppenbach meat market in Jeffer-
son, but his family resided in Water
town. He has served as alderman of
| the Third ward and is popular man
with a good word for every one.
He served in the Civil war from
| 1862 to 1865 in the 29th Wisconsin
infantry, being a member of Co. H,
which was recruited partly in Wa
tertown. Forty-six men joined with
squads from Fox Lake and Horizon
and were mustered into service at
Madison, Mr.. Wilson being appointed
commissary sergeant August IA, 1862,
| with Col. Charles r. Gill commanding
the regiment. His commission was
dated October 6, 1862, and was signed
| by Valentine Sweeney, adjutant. Will
| son with his regiment went to the
front, and May 8, 1854 was appointed
second iuetenant of Co. H by Cover
nor James T. Lewis, and August 81,
1864, was appointed first lieutenant.
| He was discharged at Shreveport,
La. June %, 1865, after a service of
three years. He served with his reg
] iment in the Vicksburg, Red River
and Mobile campaigns and was
wounded in the left leg at the battle
of Champion Hills and still carries
the bullet in his leg as a souvenir of
that engagement.
Mr.. Wilson relates al incident of
that fight which is worth recording. A
member Of the same company from
Watertown, Michael Murphy by name,
was chosen by Col Gill to deliver a
silk flag captured oy the 29th to Gen.
| McGinnis, the brigade commander.
Murphy reached the general, who told
| him to take it back with his compli-
ments and tell Col Gill to wear it as a
trophy Upon his return trip Muir
ply got too near the rebel lines and
was shot in the wrist and captured.
|
He was reported killed in action.
| Shortly afterward Lieutenant Wilson
came to Watertown on a furlough and
what was his surprise to see Murphy
on the street here with badly dam
aged arm. He told that after his
capture he was sent to a hospital
from which he took French leave and
came home. He returned to his regi-
ment in the. south with Mr.. Wilson
and although not able to do soldier
duty was employed about the officers
quarters. After the war he went to
| Minnesota and engaged in farming.
p, when DR.. Spaulding left u.s. said
Mr.. Wilson, "a medical student named
George Barber was the only one with
us in case of sickness and the soldiers
sent petition to the governor to
have him assigned to the regiment as
doctor, as he was well liked by all.
Murphy and John Donovan, now re-
siding at Waterloo, met one day and
DR.. Barber passed by wearing his
rank uniform. Who is that?' asked
Murphy. why, that's DR.. Barber,
said Donovan. DR.. Barber? Sure If
showed an increase of "a per cent
Butter showed an increase of 35 per
cent. Coffee showed an increase OF
SO per cent. Eggs showed an in
crease of AZ per cent. Flour showed
an increase of 81 per cent. Milk
Fshowed an increase of IL per cent
Mutton showed an increase of IS Pc
cent. Fresh pork showed an increase
of 6S per cent. Salt pork and bacon
showed an increase of 80 per cent
Ham showed an increase of As per
cent. Potatoes showed an increase
Of 20 per cent. Veal showed an in