Arizona republican., 1918-05-07

STATE PIONEER
 Mrs. Susan M Wilson passed away Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, nav ing been in failing health for several years, not realizing the extent of her condition until the last few years of her life. but was always up and around.
 She was riding around the city with her son but a feE hours before death.
 Married when a young girl in Vlr- ginia, she left within a week with her plainsman husband for the mines of Nevada, arriving on Christmas day. 1873. Holidays have always marked important dates in -er life, for after leaving Nevada in A wagon and driv- ing overland across the desert and mountains, MT. and Mrs. w. J. Wilson reached PboeniX, July 4, 1876, settling on a farm four miles southeast of the city on what is now known as the Wilson district.
 Gordon A. Wilson had preceded them
  a member of the legislature and county supervisor. Mir and Mrs. Wilson owned. in the early days, upwards of 500 acres of the finest land in the Wilson district, but gradually disposed of parts to earnest settlers, retaining the home lot and the canals.
 w. J. Wilson was appointed the first trustee of the district and hauled in the first load of material that built the first school in the district, and also hauled material and assisted in the building of the old adobe Methodist church, where the present church now stands He was persistent in his church duties and ever ready to lend helping hand to those who were in need of Christian friend.
 After having lived in the valley for Is years, he passed beyond, leaving a widow and eight chilGren to cherish his memory. The children grew and prospered and in turn passed along the name to other generations, Mrs. Wilson taking hold of the reins to guide the future werrare and destinies of her family. At the time of her familys early youth and up to the time of her passing away, she never failed in her Christian Cuty in point ing them to the Saviour, who can take away all cares of life, always attentive in her church work and devoted to its cause. She was alN avs ready to eX- tend hand and a kind smile to her wide circle of friends. Nothing did her more good than to have some dear Christian person talk to her about the Saviour, and to cheer her | heart along the way.
 | She loved the church most dearly and was her life's most enjoyment, and always rejoiced in the sabbath morn | ings so she could devo.e her time and energy to God, and as long as she was able, she never mirsed attending church and the great cause which it represents.
 | Her every trials were filled with smiles, and her joys were filled with tears. She was deeply interested in l the titanic struggle across the sea, for with an aching heart she bade her youngest son goodbye when he was called to the colors Tor the honor of mother and duty to country. Her deepest hopes were that she might see the terrible strugg:e end, in order that she might not have to sacrifice her boy on a foreign land, and that other saddened hearts might be cherished to know that their boys would return. Her words were, T have raised my boy that he may love | and honor his mother and his coun- try"
 Her heart was saddened during the | Civil war when she ~as a small girl | She stood by the roadside then with | a basket on arm, passing out food to the hungry and ragged soldier boys as they marched along. Each day | when the daily paper would arrive her first wish would be, How is the war; and when the great advance was made a few weeks ago and our losses were something beyond the ordinary, il melted her heart in rears that she should. hear of so many precious lives sinking upon the bloodstained soil oi Europe.
 Mrs. Wilson could look back to hel early struggles with complacency thinking life was a bit hard at times but it was always happy.
 I've watched the ~onderful trans. formation worked by water, turning the dry desert into fruitful fields. II the early days our Maricopa Indian: always seemed to help and protect tht whites and these last were not st many when I first came to Phoenix. "The village was but a few adob, houses, and property was very cheap The plot of ground where the Ven dome now stands with other lots solt for $50. Where the city hall is nov was then a cluster of trees and on could homestead land within a mil' or two from town. It is a far stretcl to the days when we built our valle. homes. It used to be weird vast of sand and sage brush and gian cacti. Sage brush and greasewoot have given place to the olive and or ange. Where the acre of barren soi was, now the acres of alfalfa. Tn laughter of children has taken tn place of the cry of the coyote. Irri gation, the wonderful blessing brough by the water, has made the desert garden, just as kindness and neigh borness does to human hearts. It i a good old world for which 1 than the giver.''
 She leaves to mourn her gloriou
 passing to the great beyond, eigh children of her family. William Bel Wilson. who has resided in Pasaden;