Death Of James A. Wilson
December 22, 1882
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
James A. WILSON was born on the farm on which he ended his life, on the 20th of October, 1839. His father was one of the early settlers of DeWitt county, having located here in 1832. Wilson township was named in honor of the elder Wilson. In his youth James A. Wilson had only the meager advantages of a country school education, his teacher being Harvey BLOUNT. Till five years ago he had spent his life on a farm, to which he added the business of buying cattle and hogs. He was a trader on a large scale, for whatever he undertook he went at it with all his might. Twenty years ago last September he was married to Elizabeth COOK, of Waynesville, he having formed her acquaintance while she was teaching school in the Wilson neighborhood. Till he came to Clinton Mr. Wilson was an active worker in the church and Sunday-school, to both of which causes he contributed liberally in time and money. Indeed in money matters James Wilson was as liberal a man as ever lived in DeWitt county. His purse was always open to help a friend or a stranger in distress. No friend ever called on James Wilson for help in vain. In his native township he was a recognized leader, and for years held the different town offices, from supervisor to school trustee. He was an honored member of the Masons, Odd-Fellows and Knights of Pythias. The good he did in life will live after him. If he had faults, his virtues entirely covered them up in the eyes of the world. Peace to his ashes. The tired soul is beyond the harassing cares of business troubles.
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December 22, 1882
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
THE END OF SPECULATION.
James A. Wilson, Treasurer of DeWitt
County, Commits Suicide Because of Financial Losses On the Chicago Board of
Trade.
HIS ACCOUNTS AS TREASURER ARE ALL RIGHT.
This afternoon the clods in the Walters graveyard, in Wilson township, will cover as kind a heart as ever throbbed in DeWitt county. James A. WILSON, whose tragic death occurred last Wednesday morning, will long be remembered by a host of friends, not alone for his genial, whole-souled manner, but also for his manly characteristics. Who that has known him from boyhood to mature manhood would ever dream that to-night he would sleep the suicide's sleep of death. But a little more than six weeks ago James A. Wilson was a prominent and successful candidate for the office of treasurer of this county. Twice before had he asked the same office at the hands of the people, and on both occasions his request was honored by the largest majorities ever given to any candidate in the county. Although a Democrat in politics, James A. Wilson received a large portion of his vote at both times from his Republican friends. His third election, for a term of four years, was accomplished on the 7th of November, and this time he carried this city by a handsome majority, notwithstanding it is largely Republican. This will show the esteem in which he was held by men of all shades of politics, and it was a tribute to that manliness of character which has been exhibited throughout his life. THE PUBLIC was politically opposed to Mr. Wilson, and did all it honorably could to defeat him at each time he was a candidate, but the people of this county, who had known him as a boy and man for forty years, did not enter into the spirit of our opposition. He was a Democrat it is true, but he was a tolerant one, and conceded the right of every man to his own convictions in politics as well as in other matters.
During the last campaign Mr. Wilson was often cast down in spirit because of the uncertainties of the result. There were two causes for this. First, defeat would have mortified his proud spirit, for his success in his two previous campaigns, being elected by unparalleled majorities, caused him to hope that his personal friends would cling to him independent of party ties. Second, his financial affairs were in an embarrassing condition, and defeat would have brought ruin to him. He was a daring speculator, and took chances in trade that would have appalled an ordinary man. This recklessness was evinced in his speculations on the Chicago board of trade a year ago last summer, when the whole nation seemed to go wild on grain options. When the average country trader would content himself with the risk on five thousand bushels of wheat or corn, Mr. Wilson would dash in with an order for from twenty to fifty thousand bushels. During the exciting period thousands of dollars were made by men living in and near Clinton out of their deals with the board of trade, and Mr. Wilson was among the most successful of the operators. His daring risks yielded him large returns, and if he could have stopped then, today he would still be with us. The tide turned, and the thousands he had made were swept away and other thousands were cast into the stream in the hope of recovering his lost fortune. Mr. Wilson was not the only loser in this county during the past twelve or fifteen months. Others have lost heavily, and do yet occasionally dabble in options in the hope of retrieving their lost fortunes. Let Mr. Wilson's sad ending be a warning to them. He was brave and courageous in business, but the tension became so strong that it finally unseated his reason and his judgment and sent him to a suicide's grave. Where his losses are located is not yet known.
Since his election the last time to office he seemed to recover his former good spirits, and went to work with a determination to get his business with the county in such a shape as would make everything safe. A few weeks ago he had every dollar of the county funds invested in his own private speculations, but when the time for his annual settlement with the board of supervisors came, he had replaced this money in the banks to his credit as county treasurer. He then determined henceforth to keep the county funds separate and apart from his business, and at each of the banks opened an account as treasurer. This has proven to be a blessing to his bondsmen, for today every dollar belonging to the county stands in the banks to his credit as treasurer. Had it been, as in the past, mixed up with his own financial operations, his creditors would have a lien on the money. The act was a thoughtful one, and show that James A. Wilson was determined that no man who had confidence enough in him to become his bondsman should lose a dollar. Within the past three or four weeks he had settled up matters connected with his farming operations and got them into shape. On last Saturday he assigned to Charles RICHTER, of DeWitt, all of his title and interest in the books and stock of the DeWitt tile yard. The firm of H. LeFeber & Co., of which Mr. Wilson was a member, are dealers in grain. Contrary to the advice of his partners—Messrs. LeFeber and Richter—Mr. Wilson had a trade in Chicago for fifteen thousand bushels of corn. The deal was an unfortunate one for the firm, and Mr. Wilson, to save his partners from the result of his over confidence in options, turned over his interest in the tile yard to pay the loss, which will fully meet it.
On last Monday and Tuesday he went around to the business houses of Clinton and settled up every dollar of his indebtedness. During al this time he seemed to be as calm and possessed as he ever was in his life. He was unusually careful to get receipts, and on some of them he required the merchant to add "in full to date." About noon on Tuesday he went out to his mother's farm in Wilson township, intending to go from there that evening to DeWitt, where he had an engagement to meet Mr. Richter. Instead of going to DeWitt he stopped at his mother's house that night, and complained that he was not feeling well. During the night he was very restless and kept his roommate (Mr. Sortman) awake till near morning, talking to him. Not a word did he say that would indicate that his mind was troubled, nor could his mother or sister see any difference in his actions. Early next morning he arose and ate breakfast with the family, after which he lit his pipe and strolled toward the barn. His brother Isaiah and Sortman were milking the cows, but they paid no attention to his actions, as everything he did was done in a natural manner. After milking the cows, Isaiah Wilson went to the barn, the door of which he found fastened on the outside, and after opening the door the first sight which met his gaze was his brother James hanging suspended to a rafter over one of the stalls. How James Wilson got into the barn no one knows, for he certainly did not enter by the door. From the manner in which he was hanging, it is supposed that he climbed up on the side of the stall, and after running the narrow end of the strap through a loop in the other end he must have tied the small end of the strap around the rafter and then putting his head into the noose, swung off from the side of the stall and strangled himself to death. When Isaiah found him he could not have been suspended more than fifteen minutes, but when the body was cut down life was found to be extinct. The body was carried into the house, and messengers were sent to DeWitt and to Wapella to announce the sad news by telegraph to his wife and children in this city. Mrs. Wilson's house is about six miles from DeWitt. James A. Wilson committed suicide about half-past six in the morning, and in less than two hours the fatal news had reached this city. From the manner in which the dispatch read it was supposed that the fatal deed had been accomplished at DeWitt, where it was known Mr. Wilson intended to be on Tuesday night, and Mr. A. V. LISENBY and the editor of THE PUBLIC went to DeWitt on the morning train, there to learn that the tragedy had been enacted on the farm on which Mr. Wilson had been born. When the news reached Clinton, everybody seemed to be paralyzed. Less than twenty-four hours before James A. Wilson was among the business houses, and talked cheerfully with those whom he met, and now came the news of his tragic death. It seemed almost as if death had entered every household, so great was the sorrow felt. Strong men wept over the sad ending of one whom they had known and respected for years. All business at once came to a standstill, and nothing was thought of or talked of but the unfortunate suicide who was then lying cold in death under the roof of the old homestead. What must have been the grief of the stricken wife when the terrible news was conveyed to her by Mrs. W. BISHOP and Dr. GOODBRAKE when it had such an effect on those who had only known him in the outer world! The scene in that bereft home is too sacred for the reporter's pencil.
When Mr. Lisenby arrived at DeWitt he at once telegraphed Coroner MORROW to go to Wilson township to hold the inquest. The coroner and Dr. DOWNEY started as soon after as possible, and on arriving at old Mrs. Wilson's, Dr. POTTER, J. K. DAVIS, A. J. LATIMER, W. W. NEWMAN, Smith FULLER and Thomas W. CAIN were impaneled as a jury. Only the inmates of the farm-house were called to testify, and their evidence could throw no light as to the cause which led to the rash act. Dr. Downey testified that Mr. Wilson had consulted him about three weeks previous and said he had been troubled with his stomach for a long time. He stated that for years he had been troubled with low spirits and great suffering at times, and that while these attacks lasted he did not care whether he lived or died. Dr. Downey pronounced his disease to be chronic inflammation of the stomach, and gave him medicine to relieve him. The Doctor said from the testimony given before the jury he believed that Mr. Wilson was laboring under a fit of temporary despondency when he took his life. The verdict of the jury was that "James A. Wilson was, at the time of this death, in a state of extreme despondency."
It would appear from the following document, which was found in his pocket, that as long ago as the 28th of November James A. Wilson had come to the determination to take his own life. Just think in what a state of mind he must have been when he could sit down and carefully prepare such a statement. First he gives in detail some of his business matters which he wants to leave in an intelligent shape. Then in a fit of remorse he refers to the cause of his mental trouble, and exclaims, "O God, how bad I feel! I don't' know what to do." Ruin seems to have been staring him in the face because of his unlucky ventures on the board of trade. But conscious in his intention to deal honorably by his bondsmen, he says in the same paragraph that they will not suffer. What must have been his torture of mind at the idea of leaving his family, for the grief-stricken cry wells up from his heart, "O, what will become of my dear wife and children!" Imagine if you can what must have been the feelings of that man who for three weeks carried the terrible secret in his pocket that he was so soon to leave the wife and children whom he met every day at the family board and around the fire in the evening after returning to his home. For three weeks was he mingling in the busy scenes of daily life, putting his affairs in order and getting ready for the fatal hour when he should end his life. One can hardly realize that such a thing can be, and yet here is the evidence in the handwriting of the dead man:
November 28, `82
Samuel Tyler owes me two hundred and twenty-five dollars rent on the Hanger farm, and there is none of it paid.
John North owes me fifteen hundred dollars for rent for the past four years ending March 1st, 1882. He holds a note on me for over thirteen hundred dollars which will not quite balance the rent, so he will have to pay the balance in cash.
I am very sad! My troubles all commenced with the Board of Trade. It got me started, and the first thing that I knew I met a heavy loss. This induced me to try again. So one after another ruined me. I hate to leave my dear wife and children. O God! how I feel. I don't know what to do. Those that owe me don't pay me, and I am in more anguish than I can bear. My bondsmen will not suffer; but Oh! what will become of my dear wife and children! I hope they will bear up under this heavy stroke. I know it will be awful.
I want W. R. Carle, Wm. Fuller and John Wightwick to settle up my business. There is a great deal of unpaid tax and he will know all about it. Men, this will be a hard dose, but for the sake of my family do the best you can and try and save the North farm.
Nick Foley, I want you to help my family to $3000. I have made it for you. O! Nick, don't fail. E. B. Harrold, can't you get them a place somewhere in the west where they can make a living. For God's sake, Eph, help; you know that I can't help myself.
[Here three or four lines were written, but so completely blotted over by an indelible pencil that not even a single word could be deciphered.]
I own one-half interest in the Richter tile business. It is all paid for and my share is worth at least four thousand dollars. I want Charley to take it and settle up the LeFeber business.
I want Brad Hand and F. M. Burroughs to see that my wife gets her insurance as I am afraid that will be about all she will have.
Oh, my God! if I had not got into the Board of Trade I could have paid all that I owe and had money left.
Oh, mother! don't send for my family. Have some one take me and put me in the Walters graveyard; but Oh! let my family stay at home; it is so cold and the baby is sick. Oh, what a failure I am! Oh children, be good to ma and all good to one another. The Lord bless you all. Oh, my poor old mother! I can't write any more.
Good-by to all.
JAS. A. WILSON.
My God! my God! forgive! forgive!
The Eli Walters farm does not belong to me. I am holding it in trust for him, and when he pays $1000 to his father, on which I am security, and one to the National Bank, and $500 to my administrators, then he must have his land back.
JAS. A. WILSON.
It is evident that the latter part of the statement, wherein he appeals to his mother not to send for his family, must have been written on the night before his death, or early Wednesday morning before he went to the barn. The writing looks fresher than the preceding paragraphs. And after all had been finished, he remembered his transaction about the Eli Walters farm, and so that there should be no misunderstanding he gives the particulars in full. There is a precision and method in the whole statement which shows it to have been carefully considered, except in one or two paragraphs where the burden of his misfortune seems to have settled heavier upon him.
What could have induced him to commit the act is yet a mystery. There is no knowledge of any great indebtedness hanging over him. That he lost heavily in his board of trade speculations is beyond dispute, but no pressing liability is known that should have induced him to commit suicide. It is possible that he owed a few thousand dollars, but with his limited credit this could not have affected him disastrously. He was a young and vigorous man and a clear-headed trader in everything except options. There must be some cause beyond what is yet known to the world. James A. Wilson would not take his own life because he owed a few thousand dollars. All is chaos.
At the request of his wife, his body was brought to this city on Wednesday evening, after the holding of the inquest. This morning the Free Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, in all of which orders Mr. Wilson was an honored member, united in paying the last tribute to their deceased brother. The orders marched to the residence of the deceased and escorted the body to the M. E. Church, where the funeral services were held by the Rev. O. B. THAYER, pastor of the Presbyterian Church (of which Mr. Wilson's family are members). The sermon was an able one and at its conclusion Mr. Thayer paid a high tribute to the character of the deceased. After the service the orders escorted the body to the city limits, from whence the funeral cortege proceeded to the Walters graveyard, where all the Wilson family for generations had been buried.
The warm heart of Clinton goes out in sympathy to the bereaved widow and her children.
And now as to the financial condition of the estate of the deceased. He leaves about four hundred acres of land on which there is no mortgage indebtedness. This land would sell for at least $20,000. So far as known his liabilities will not exceed $10,000, unless there is something behind the scene that has not yet come to light. He had an insurance on his life for $2000 in the endowment rank of the order of Knights of Pythias, and about $2800 in the Masonic mutual insurance company. This his wife will receive as soon as the final papers can be perfected.
During the exciting political campaign which ended in the election of Mr. Wilson to the office of county treasurer THE PUBLIC had often written his name, but it is with satisfaction we can now say that through all there never appeared a word which would reflect on the honor or integrity of James A. Wilson. While opposed to him politically we respected him as a friend, and we believe this feeling was mutual between us. It is with a sad heart that we now write the closing chapter in the life of one with whom we have been on the most friendly and intimate terms during a period of at least nine years. We have sat together in the Lodge-room and mingled together in the social circle and in the daily business of life. In every place and under every circumstance we always found James A. Wilson to be the soul of honor.
James A. Wilson was born on the farm on which he ended his life, on the 20th of October, 1839. His father was one of the early settlers of DeWitt county, having located here in 1832. Wilson township was named in honor of the elder Wilson. In his youth James A. Wilson had only the meager advantages of a country school education, his teacher being Harvey BLOUNT. Till five years ago he had spent his life on a farm, to which he added the business of buying cattle and hogs. He was a trader on a large scale, for whatever he undertook he went at it with all his might. Twenty years ago last September he was married to Elizabeth COOK, of Waynesville, he having formed her acquaintance while she was teaching school in the Wilson neighborhood. Till he came to Clinton Mr. Wilson was an active worker in the church and Sunday-school, to both of which causes he contributed liberally in time and money. Indeed in money matters James Wilson was as liberal a man as ever lived in DeWitt county. His purse was always open to help a friend or a stranger in distress. No friend ever called on James Wilson for help in vain. In his native township he was a recognized leader, and for years held the different town offices, from supervisor to school trustee. He was an honored member of the Masons, Odd-Fellows and Knights of Pythias. The good he did in life will live after him. If he had faults his virtues entirely covered them up in the eyes of the world. Peace to his ashes. The tired soul is beyond the harassing cares of business troubles.
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December 29, 1882
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
ALL IS WELL.
While we all mourn the loss of our mutual friend and brother, James A. WILSON, and the sad mental derangement which led to his death, we rejoice to be able to inform all the readers of The Register this week that his financial affairs were left in excellent condition, and that the stories set afloat last week by designing men are only base fabrications and vanish into thin air, and must recoil to the merited confusions of the reckless instigators. Mr. Harrold, of Wapella, when he heard of the suicide, and thinking probably he might be involved, took the train to Chicago where he remained about a week to investigate the matter, and has returned with the satisfactory intelligence that not the scratch of a pen or the shadow of a liability could be found on the Chicago board of trade against Mr. Wilson. And the fact now appears to be that he has never lost a single dollar by reason of operations on the board of trade.
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