obits: William H. Wilson, Indiana County, PA SUBJECT: Obituary SUBMITTER: Lois James EMAIL: ella519@aol.com DATE: Aug 20, 1999 PASSWORD> SURNAMES: Wilson, Bracken From the DuBois Daily Express 4/16/1931 ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING VETERANS DEAD William H. Wilson, one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil War living in Dubois, and the chaplain of Easton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, died Wednesday afternoon at 3:10 o'clock at the Maple Avenue hospital. Death followed an operation that was performed to relieve an organic trouble that had been in evidence for some time, and required relief by an operation. The condition of the old veteran was such, however, that his system could not stand the shock and he passed away at the hour stated. Comrade Wilson was a familiar figure on the streets of Dubois and continued quite active until a few weeks ago, despite the fact that he was past 83 years of age. He was always very faithful in his attendance at the meetings of the post on Saturday afternoonm as well as generally being present at the various times the old veterans are entertained. He was very faithful in his presence at the annual Memorial Day program at the cemetaries, and his absence will be keenly felt by those who participated in the great civil struggle with him, and his friendship was prised by them. He was also held in the highest respect in the community, not only as a civil war veteran, but as an honest, upright citizen of Dubois, a man who always worked for the better interests of the community. The death of Mr Wilson reduces to four the number of veterans still remaining in Dubois. These are: Levi Nale, W.A. Poorman, W.H. King, and E.S. Levan. Mr Wilson was the youngest of the quintet. William H. Wilson was born in Strongstown, Indiana Co, on January 3 1847 and was one of the great number of young men who went out of that county in answer to President Lincoln's call to arms. He was to young to enlist when the strive developed, but enlisted as soon as he reached 16, in 1863, with the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers and served through to the end of the war in 1865, when he was given his honorable discharge at the age of 18 and returned to Indiana County. In May, 1870 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bracken, the ceremony taking place at Strongstown, and after residing there for several years, moved to Dubois almost a decade before the fire of 1888. Mr Wilson followed the usual pursuits of those earlier residents of this community that depended upon the lumbering industry for its liveihood. Later, when the tanneries were constructed, he joined the VanTassel tannery crew and was connected with that industry practically all of its long life. In recent years the advance of times brought on a gradual decline in his activities, although he maintained his health and was able to enjoy life, besides maintaining his active connections with the G.A.R. post. For several years he had been its chaplain and he was one of the two or three survivors who had been able to get out to the various functions held here more resently in honor of the veterans of the Civil War. Five sons and three daughters survive to mourn his loss, his wife having passed on seven years ago last January 7. These survivors are as follows: N.O. Wilson of Albany, N.Y; A.W. Wilson of Albion, Pa; M.R. Wilson of Buffalo, N.Y; Mrs F.B. O'Donnell of Buffalo N.Y; Harry Wilson; Mrs H.A. Thompson and Mrs. R.L. Logan, of Dubois; H.E. Wilson, Marion, Ohio. There also are eighteen grandchildren and fourteen great grand children surviving. The deceased was a member of the Evangical Church for many years and furneral services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the bereaved home at 306 South Brady Street, by Rev. T.W. Barlett, of that congregation. Burial, with military honors, will be made in the Salem Cemetary. Veterans of the Spanish-American War will serve as pall-bearers and the Montgomery Post of the American Legion will provide firing squad and escort. ----------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.