Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Wilson, Henry J. 1879
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net July 7, 2017, 5:16 pm

Ionia Weekly Standard, 24 Apr 1879

Death of Henry J. Wilson.

One of Ionia’s most substantial citizens has passed away to an eternal
pilgrimage in that “undiscovered country” of Leal by the death of Henry J. Wilson.

This sad and unfortunate event occurred on Monday morning at about three
o’clock.  He was sick a little more than a week, having been first stricken with
the colic on Sunday, April 10th.  This disease did not [unreadable] very
alarming symptoms until Friday, when the patient’s physicians discovered that it
was accompanied by the strangulated hernia of a malignant character.  At the
solicitation of the family Dr. Shepherd of Grand Rapids was called as counsal,
and after a careful diagnosis of Mr. Wilson’s condition it was discovered that
an operation would have to be performed if his life was to be saved.  But all
efforts proved futile; the hernia had made vital progress, and claimed its
victim.  On Sunday Mr. Wilson began to sink rapidly, but his mind remained clear
and undimmed, and was able to dictate the terms of his will. He gradually grew
weaker throughout the night till the freshening morn had begun to streak the sky
with faint lines of light and beauty, when his tired spirit took its flight,
heralded to the other spheres by the tuneful harmonies of wakening nature.

The lamented deceased was born in Avon, Livingston county, N.Y., on the 20th of
January, 1829.  In the fall of 1850 – having just attained his majority – he
emigrated to Michigan and settled in Ionia.  He taught school the first winter
at Lyons, but the following summer became a clerk in the dry goods store of A.F.
Carr in Ionia.  In 1853 he formed a co-partnership in the mercantile business
with Geo. Lake, one of the early pioneers.  Jas. Kennedy afterwards purchased
the interest of Lake, and the new firm erected the brick building now occupied
by Nathan Kenyon – the first of its kind in Ionia.  In 1854, April 5th, he
married Miss Helen M. Moseman, who with five children, the fruit of this union,
still survives him.  Two years afterwards he dissolved partnership, and in 1857
was appointed by President Buchanan received of the Ionia Land Office, a
position he held four years.  In 1861 he build the warehouse which is still
standing, just east of the D., G.H.& M. depot, and carried on a general produce
business.  Subsequently, we think in 1864, he run a dry goods and grocery
establishment with Hon. G.W. Webber in the store at present occupied by Webber &
Hall.  This partnership continued until 1869, when he went into the banking and
wheat buying business with W.C. Page, a firm which was maintained till his
death.  Mr. Wilson early became a member of the Presbyterian church and for
fifteen years occupied the office of elder and trustee.  He was libearal in his
contributions to the support of the services, and was zealous in every
undertaking of the religion to which he had vowed allegiance.  An ardent friend
of the temperance cause, he was usually foremost in all efforts to put down the
traffic in liquor, and was recently president of the red ribbon club of this city.

The funeral services were held Wednesday forenoon at 10 o’clock from the
Presbyterian church.  Rev. Dr. Foote officiated, assisted by Rev. J. Pierson. 
The sermon by the former was a beautiful tribute to the character of the dead –
strong in analysis and splendid in rhetorical finish and perspicuity.  The text
was an apt one, taken from Ecclesiastes:  “As a tree falleth, so shall it lie.”
 A large audience gathered to witness the mournful observances, and it was
noticeable that the greater portion of them had grown gray since their
friendship for the deceased begun in the long ago when the “forest primeval”
confronted the hardy pioneer.  The procession which followed the hearse to the
grave was also very large, and testified to the widespread sorrow which prevails
over the untoward occurrence.

It is a rare thing when a man combines, not only business qualifications of the
highest degree, supplemented by wise forecast and indomitable perseverance, but
also a nature whose every fibre is an inspiration of the purest morality and
loftiest manhood.  Yet Henry J. Wilson was the embodiment of these splendid and
ennobling requisites of a character too little seen to-day; and he had the eye
of reason to guide the radiant path of his career and the ear of Christian faith
to inspire and exalt that reason.  He was exact and painstaking in the
performance of every duty, and was the soul of honor in commercial transactions.
 His plighted word was a guarantee of absolute surety, and he demanded the same
rigid observance of fair dealing on the part of those with whom he dealt. 
Socially he stood very high, although his inclinations tended rather to the
quiet of home than the pleasurable excitements of the fashionable gathering.  As
a conversationalist he was always intelligent, easy and entertaining.  His vast
acquaintance with the practical things of every day experience gave to his words
the stamp and energy of wisdom, and like the duke who earned the laurel of
Tennyson’s noblest verse his “thoughts were rife With ragged maxims hewn from
life.:

In the family circle he was a kind and affectionate husband and a considerate
and indulgent father.  He adorned the circle of domestic relations with the
rarest appreciation of its manifold responsibilities, and was ever forbearing,
loving and generous.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/w/wilson6654gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/

File size: 5.9 Kb