My Genealogy Hound

Fred J. Wilson, of Edina, son of the late Judge E. V. Wilson, was born in Edina, September 7, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of this town and the college, and worked at clerical duties several years in the offices of the sheriff and collector, and for a time also in his father’s law office. Since the fall of 1885 he has been with the bank of Edina, as bookkeeper and secretary. December 7, 1886, he was married to Miss Lillie O., daughter of the late Rev. George C. Brown, a Baptist minister of Paris, Mo. Our subject is a Republican, a member of the city council, and one of the enterprising and successful young men of the town. His father’s family was as follows: Minnie, William (stock dealer at Quincy), Vick C., George E. (grain dealer, of Hartland, Kas.), Sophia (wife of Dr. T. A. Campbell, of Grainfield, Kas.), Fred J. (our subject), Kate W. (wife of J. W. Campbell, hardware merchant, of Grainfield, Kas.), Charles I. and Frank A. Judge Elias V. Wilson was born in Butler County; Ohio, February 17, 1824, being a son of John K. Wilson, who for many years was a prominent man of that county. At the age of sixteen years he entered Miami University, from which institution he graduated with honor in 1843, and immediately entered the law office of John B. Weller, of Hamilton, Ohio, where he remained engaged in study until 1846, when he was admitted to the bar, and immediately began the practice of his profession at Hamilton. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico, he and an elder brother, William, enlisted, William being elected lieutenant, and E. V., sergeant of their company. After three months’ service the latter was attacked with Brazos fever, was honorably discharged, and sent home. In 1847 he married Jane, the eldest daughter of Joshua Delaplane, of Hamilton, Ohio, and soon afterward immigrated to Missouri, stopping at Tully, Lewis County, early in 1849. Early in the decade of the fifties he removed to Edina, Knox County, where he resided until his death. In 1853 he was appointed by the county court to organize the schools of Knox County, and for a number of years served as county attorney. In 1850, after a warm canvass, he was elected representative to the General Assembly. When the great Rebellion broke out he espoused the cause of the Union, and raised and commanded a company of Home Guards, and upon the organization of the Second Regiment of Northeast Missouri Reserve Corps he was made major. During the years 1863-64 he was employed in the service of the Government in the capacity of assistant provost-marshal, and in 1864 was elected to the State Senate, where he served with marked ability during the stormy sessions of 1864-65. In April, 1865, he was appointed by Gov. Fletcher to fill the vacancy in the judgeship of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, occasioned by the promotion of David Wagner, his predecessor to the supreme bench, and in 1868 he was elected to the same position for the full term of six years, retiring from the bench in 1875. During this entire service of nearly ten years he never failed to hold a term of court provided for by law, and often held special terms, and this too, when there were no railroads in the district. In 1869 he took an active part in the organization of the Q. M. & P. Railroad, of which company he was for some time a director. After his retirement from the bench in 1875 he resumed the practice of law, and remained actively engaged until 1878, when a partial loss of his eyesight occasioned his gradual withdrawal from business. For several years prior to, and at the time of, his death, he was president of the bank of Edina. On Monday, October 5, 1885, while removing a heavy board from a plank fence, he received a severe bruise and a very slight abrasion of the skin on the back of the right hand, but paid little attention to the wound. On Tuesday the hand pained him excessively, and Dr. Nelson was called in, though no serious result was apprehended. For several years the Judge’s health had been failing and his constitution seemed breaking up, and now this wound, though slight, seemed to deprive him of all energy. Every attention was given him, yet, notwithstanding this, erysipelas set in, and the symptoms becoming more alarming, Dr. L. S. Brown was sent for, and the two physicians did all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the Judge. Dr. Bassett, of Quincy, and Dr. Gregory, of St. Louis, were summoned, and after consultation it was decided to lay open the hand, which was accordingly done, but without noticeable benefit. He declined steadily until death relieved him of his sufferings. He was buried with Masonic honors and ceremonies, a large assemblage of friends and relatives being present. He left a widow, six sons and three daughters to mourn his death.