Braxton County, West Virginia Biography of Newton Van WILSON This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 276 NEWTON VAN WILSON, one of the experienced and suc- cessful practitioners at the bar of Gassaway, is serving the city as its attorney, and is rendering his community an efficient service both in a public and private capacity. He was born at Glendon, Braxton County, September 30, 1872, a son of William M. and Phoebe (Frame) Wilson. William M. Wilson was born at Ireland, Lewis County, West Virginia, January 4, 1826, while his wife was born in Clay County, West Virginia, and she died in 1875. Both were reared to farm life, and their educational train- ing was restricted to that afforded by the local schools. They were married in Clay County, and settled in that county, which they later left, going to Texas. After four years spent in the latter state they returned to West Vir- ginia and located in Braxton County, where both rounded out their useful lives, having been farming people. They were consistent members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In his political convictions he was a democrat. Of their seven children four are still living, namely: Virginia, who is the wife of J. W. Jackson; Glarvina, who is the wife of John Q. Harris, of Canfield, West Virginia; Rob- ert L., who is a resident of Centralia; and Newton Van, whose name heads this review. Reared on his father's farm, Newton Van Wilson first attended the common schools, later a high school, from which he was graduated, and he then matriculated in the law department of the University of West Virginia, and was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar of his native state in 1897, and then settled permanently at Gassaway, where he has built up a large and very important practice. At one time he was justice of the peace, he has served on the Board of Education, and is now city attorney. Having faith in Gassaway, he has shown an interest in local con- cerns, and is a stockholder of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Gassaway. Mr. Wilson married first Bettie A. Duffield, who died, leaving four children, namely: Mertie C., Leonore, Goldie and Garland. In 1920 Mr. Wilson married Miss Ettie Cor- ley. There are no children of this marriage. Mrs. Wil- son belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Fraternally Mr. Wilson belongs to Gassaway Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand, the Grand Lodge aud Encampment of that order, and is a past chief potentate of the Encampment; and he is also a member of Frame- town Lodge No. 196, K. of P., of which he is a past chan- cellor; and of Gassaway Lodge No. 1558, L. O O. M. In politics he is a republican, and has been elected to the several offices on his party ticket. Skilled as an attorney, capable as a man, and public-spirited as a citizen, Newton Van Wilson is representative of the best element of his profession and state, and reflects dignity and honor upon everything with which he is connected.