The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-07

HENRY WILSON.

Henry Wilson died at his home IN
Honesdale March 8, 1913.
So passes one of the foremost citi-
zens of Wayne county, in law,
journalism and politics, and the
leading spirit III this section among
the survivors of the Civil war.
It is appropriate that this journal,
for so many years enriched by the
product of his facile and informing
pen should pay special tribute to his
memory. At the request of Hon. G. G.
Jadwin he came to Honesdale in
1869 and assumed editorial charge
of The Citizen. From that time un-
til his retirement in September,
1908, it is doubtful if any number of
this journal appeared which did not
contain more or less of his editor
ial work. In all phases of national
politics, both current and historical,
he was thoroughly informed, and no
journal in the country, outside the
large cities, discussed the issues of
a presidential campaign or the poll
cies which should control the nation
with greater force and sounder logic
than did The Citizen through his
pen. He was Republican in poll
tics, not only because he was at the
helm of Republican newspaper, but
by reason of deep personal convic-
tion of the soundness and righteous
ness of the principles of that party.
In local political campaigns The Cit
izen under his guidance was a pow
er for the party, and in questions
of local political policy he was al
ways consulted, and his judgment
was largely relied upon. He asked
for no political preferment for him
self and received none, save that in
1876 he received an appointment as
Associate Judge of the Wayne coun-
ty courts and served for a year in
that position. Always afterward he
was known as Judge Wilson," and
the title fitted him admirably. He
had a profound knowledge of the
law. In his younger days he studied
law with d. N. Lathrope of Carbon
dale, and was admitted to the bar
December 8, 1859. On coming to
Honesdale he combined with his
journalistic duties the practice of the
law, and soon was among the lead
ers of the bar in this county. AS
trial lawyer he was not brilliant,
but as pleader, in presenting the
legal aspects of case to the court,
in the application of facts to princi-
pies of law, in his wide knowledge
and understanding of statutes and
precedents he was not eXcelled. His
is one of the names that give lustre
to the history of the Wayne County
bar.
Another phase of his many-sided
character is shown in the deep in
terest he took to the day of his
death in the soldiers of the Civil
war. He himself had borne the
hardships and endured the priva-
tions of a soldier in that war, and
he knew how to sympathize with his
comrades. For many years prior to
his death, as commander of Captain
James Ham Post, he was prominent
in Grand Army circles. There was
never an old comrade who did not
honor him and love him. OF the
burdens of the Post he bore more
than his share, in all the meetings
and celebrations he was always the
leading spirit, and whenever any of
his old comrades in arms were over
taken by trouble or sickness or
death, his was always the helping
hand, the cheering presence and the
comforting word. But those who
knew him well, knew that his heart
was saddened as he saw the ranks OF
"the boys in blue" grow thin and
thinner with the passing years
His sympathy with the misfortunes
of his fellows, his large heartedness
and his kindly interest in others
were traits of character that lasted
through his life. He himself had
seen much sorrow. On May 2S, 1877
his only daughter, Claribee, died al
the age of twelve years. She had
been the idol of his heart. He could
not quite reconcile himself to hel
absence And later on, Oct. 8, 1898
his only son, Bruce, died at the age
of nineteen years. A bright, brave
lovable boy, his death again stirred
the parental nature to its depths
He loved little children and they