Notes
on William Perry Wilson:
OBITUARY:
WILLIAM PERRY WILSON
William
Perry Wilson was killed on November
1, 1911, at the age of 32 years, 4 months,
27 days. He had been holding on to a
handle on a slow-moving train, while
talking to a childhood friend who worked
on the train (possibly, the engineer),
when he was struck by a baggage truck
or cart and fell beneath the wheels
of the train. An account of his death
is contained in the following article
from a Republican-Era Murphysboro, IL
newspaper clipping which was supplied
to me by his daughter, Rachel Wilson
Carlton :
CAR WHEELS TAKE TOLL
________
Just
in what manner did Perry Wilson meet
his death? That question has been heard
hundreds of times here in Murphysboro
since the tragedy of 2:40 o'clock Wednesday
afternoon at the St. Louis, Iron Mountain
and Southern passenger depot in West
Murphysboro. C. S. Reeves, day operator
for the Iron Mountain and probably the
one eye witness to the tragedy, gave
a Republican-Era representative the
following version of it fifteen minutes
after it happened.
" I hope I may never have to look
upon such a sight again. He boarded
a coal car at about the middle of extra
coal train No. 460 directly in front
of the waiting room here. I had seen
him on the platform some little time
before the train pulled out.
" I saw him hop the train and thought
little of it. My attention was centered
on him, however, when I saw his body
strike a baggage truck which stood near
the south end of the platform. His hold
on the car handle was broken by the
impact of the jar against the truck,
and I can tell little more of the story.
I saw his body fall, head foremost,
it seemed to me, beneath the train.
Then it was rolled. Some times I could
see it, then again I could not.
" I saw the body picked up some
thirty yards from where he boarded the
train. I believe he was killed almost
instantly. Life seemed extinct a minute
after his body hit the truck.
" No, I did not talk with him before
he boarded the train. He did not buy
a ticket. It was not a local train and
did not carry passengers.
" I did not know the engineer's
name. Conductor Walker was in charge
of the train."
Was
Going to Farm.
Attorney W. P. Wilson's determination
to reach his farm near Goram Wednesday
and attend to pressing business led
to his death. In company with his friend,
W. H. Roberts, Attorney Wilson bought
a ticket at the Iron Mountain depot
Wednesday morning. He intended to board
the early morning passenger train for
Goram. Because it was delayed hours
by a freight wreck on the road at DeSoto,
both Mr. Wilson and Mr. Roberts are
said to have sold their tickets to the
station agent later Wednesday morning.
When asked shortly after noon Wednesday
if he was to attend the funeral of the
late George N. Kennedy, Attorney Wilson
said to State's Attorney Isaac K. Levy
that he could not very well do so, as
he had to get down to his farm. Later
in the afternoon he learned that an
extra northbound train would pass through
the city at 2:40 p.m. and he determined
to take advantage of what was seemingly
his only chance to get down to the farm
where hands were gathering some 10,000
bushels of corn, which he proudly talked
of as the item of his 'start' as a farmer.
And here is a little incident story
in the life of this honest, moral young
man: Speaking to a friend a short time
ago Attorney Wilson said, "I was
born on a farm, my people are still
farmers; were it not for giving up the
practice of law I have built up here
in Murphysboro, I would gladly become
a farmer and live on my farm in the
bottoms. I like it better."
Wife
Prostrated.
Grief prostrated Mr. Wilson's young
wife when she learned of his sudden
death shortly after it occurred. Neighbors
and friends did all they could to pacify
her to her loss. One of her little children
tugged at her skirts and said that papa
would soon be home. But the body that
had been so full of vigor and manly
honor remained in the morgue. It was
thought best to keep it from the sorrowing
wife. The hard car wheels took their
toll in a stern way. What need recite
in detail the injuries?
Sketch
of Life.
W. P. Wilson was the oldest of three
sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wilson
of Kinkaid township. Harrison and John
Wilson are his juniors. Besides these
he leaves three sisters and his parents.
In his teens the boy learned practical
farming and attended school. later,
when he showed an inclination for more
schooling, a better education was given
him. When a young man Mr. Wilson began
reading law. After years of study, for
he was thorough in everything he undertook,
the young man was admitted to the bar
October 3, 1906. October 26 of that
year he graduated. September 4, 1907,
he took to wife Miss Harriett Downen.
The marriage ceremony took place at
the courthouse in Murphysboro. Of the
three children who are left with the
young mother, Russell is the oldest,
or four years of age.
Mr. Wilson's age was 32 years, 4 months
and 14 days.
Moral
Business Man.
Soon after beginning his practice of
law in Murphysboro Attorney Wilson concentrated
his mind on business. He delved in politics
and other things. Morality and honesty
seemed the platform of his life. In
a race for a seat in the senate from
the 25th congressional district, he
was defeated by Senator R. J. McElvain.
But he made that veteran statesman a
worthy race. Later he began investments
in lands and insurance. He became involved
financially purely as an impetus to
save and pay. At the time of his death
he owned one big farm and was interested
with Attorney J. M. Herbert in another
valuable piece of farm land. He had
so arranged his insurance and other
matters that he would soon have been
able to raise $20,000 to cover his investments.
A $10,000 policy is due the widow, besides
other moneys.
Preceding City Attorney Robert P. Martin
in that office here, Attorney Wilson
kept strictly within the law and did
not purge individuality into his administration
as some thought he might. He was fair
with everyone as well as himself.
His
Standing.
As a lodgeman Mr. Wilson was high in
the esteem of Leonidas lodge, K. of
P., and the Modern Woodmen. As a professional
man he was vice president of the Jackson
County Bar association. As a businessman
he was president of the Murphysboro
Building and Loan association.
The funeral services will be conducted
at the Free Baptist church Friday afternoon,
at 1 o'clock, under the auspices of
the Knights of Pythias lodge. The members
of the Jackson County Bar association
will act as honorary pallbearers.
The body will be taken to Ava Friday
afternoon via the Mobile and Ohio railroad,
accompanied by the relatives and a retinue
of friends. The burial service will
be heard at the Evergreen
More
About William Perry Wilson:
Burial:
Evergreen Cemetery Plot G-11, Ava, IL.
Children
of William Perry Wilson and Harriet
Downen are:
