Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-12
Council Bluffs
WILCOX SUCCUMBS TO GRIPPE
Leading Citizen Of Council Bluffs
Dies After Short Illness.
BUILT Up VAST. BUSINESS
Head n Great Greenhouses Located
Here-IIIness Follow. Severe
Cold .s Result of Beeom-
Ing 0werhented.

J. r. WILCOX, FOUNDER and builder Of
the vast greenhouse business that is
known all over the country. died yester-
day afternoon at o'clock of heart weak
ness. due to Ia grippe and pneumonia,
after an Illness Of less than ten DAYS.
He was conscious and talked with mem
bers Of the family a few minutes before
he died.
Mr.. Wfleox's illness followed a severe
cold contracted early last week. He be.
came chilled during a ride TO Manaxa
after being overheated in exercise con.
nected with directing some part Of his
work on the home place La grippe.
pieurtsy and pneumonia followed IN
rapid succession, producing a fatal heart
weakness that could not be overcome
Fer several days the heart action had
been sustained by powerful stimuIants,
and yesterday morning nitroglycerine
was resorted to as the only means OF
preserving the spark of life. After the
last injection the heart failed to respond
and he died within a few minutes. One
of the lungs had become involved In the
attack Of pneumonia. and had IL not been
for the weak heart action his physicians
say he would soon have recovered
The death Of Mr.. Wilcox came as a |
great shock to his family and friends. |
Roy. the eldest son. vas completely
Frustrated and fell unconscious while
standing At the telephone few minutes
after HIS fathers death. The physicians
and nurses had TO work with him for
several hours.
Mr.. Wilcox was born In Grant county.
Wisconsin, on February .. 1864. and was
y years old. Before he was 1s he moved
with his parents to wahoo. Neb., and
Ihortly afterward came TO Council Bluffs
ind entered Into the employ of his uncle.
= a. Casper at SIS q month for two
ears. Than his pay was increased to
% month and board.
Becomes Foreman.
shortly before he was Il Mr., Casper
made him foreman and advanced his pay
10 IS month and board After his
twenty-first birthday Mr.. casper took
aim as partner in the market gardening
and together they bought what is
stu known at No. place He had
saved less than $500 the balance Of his
earnings all going to his relatives. The
Young man paid the small amount down
and gave his uncle notes for the balance.
In the course OF four years this property
became worth tsa01 and Mr.. wilcox had
FULLY paid his half. He then bought the
other half from Mr.. Casper for 5000
which he paid In two years. He then
bought the home place from Casper for
'ss-eoo. paying less than 800 down. Long
before the notes were due all were paid.
Today the Greenhouses and other prop
'rty accumulated by Mr.. Wilcox is valued
1t more than $4,000
Uncle speaks In EuIogy.
Speaking OF the character Of his
nephew. Mr.. caper said last evening:
''Mr Wilcox was self-made man
he fullest meaning Of the term. He COM
'elied confidence and maintained II by
honesty and fidelity that never waivered.
He never deceived me In any degree ana
never told me an nntruth. His judgmentI
vas a. unerring as his enterprise was
He was an example to ali
foung men. He dug out OF these hills
III the wealth he had accumulated. He
Was a public benefactor and the most
LIBERAL of men In the use Of his money
lor public enterprises. For years he has
lad on his payroll more than 100 men
md often employed 500. His death is a
PERSONAL bereavement to me which words
'annot express, for he was to me as
'on whom ! had loved from infancy and
'ecn grown into splendid manhood. II is
lard that he should die In the prime Of /
i've and when he had just fairly started
IN his career"
Five Sons survive.
Mr.. Wilcox was married In 1855 to Miss
Emma Young Of Atlantic, niece OF Mrs.
casper. HIS widow and five sons sur
1--WE him. Three children, two boys and
. sri. died In childhood.
The Commercial club, OF which MIR. vii.
,ox was an active member and officer,
viii hold a special meeting at noon today
% draft suitable expression Of the sor-
'ow all feel and to arrange for the floral
tribute that the club will lay upon his
'asket. II will be made by the Borrowing
employees of the dead florist OF flowers
hat viii be selected by the clubs COM
nittse from the great greenhouses that
will remain as his best monument.