Henry D. Wilson

1829 - 1909

Goshen’s 1st Mayor

1868 - 1869

HON. H. D. WILSON DIES IN EVANSTON

FIRST MAYOR OF GOSHEN

ENTERS ETERNAL CITY.

Judge of Elkhart Circuit Court Six

Years — Teacher and Lawyer

Previously.

Hon. Henry D. Wilson died this morning at his home in Evanston, Ill., where he has resided since leaving Goshen about seven years ago.

Judge Wilson was the oldest living member of the Elkhart county bar, and for six years he was judge of the Elkhart circuit court. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, October 3, 1829. Thomas H. Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, was his father. The grandfather came to this country prior to the American Revolution. He was a farmer, who migrated westward, settling first in Ohio and in 1836 in Noble County, Indiana. A man of great intelligence, he was made one of the associate judges of Indiana and afterwards was twice elected to the legislature. He had eight children. 

Henry D. Wilson obtained his early education in the pioneer subscription schools, but later attended the Ontario Collegiate institute, the state university at Bloomington, and Wabash College at Crawfordsville, graduating from the last named institution in 1854. For five year, he was a school teacher. From 1854 to 1857 he was principal of the Female Seminary and County Seminary in Salem, Ind. He resigned to become principal of the Cascade academy in Cascade, Iowa. He read law and returned to Indiana. He entered into partnership with Hon. A. Y. Hooper, and embarked in legal practice in Columbia City, June 25, 1860. He afterwards conducted a law office himself and in 1864 came to Goshen. A law firm composed of Mr. Wilson, his son, Harry C. Wilson and Hon. W. J. Davis, was organized under the business title of Wilson Davis & Wilson. Judge Wilson was a ready debater and early rose to prominence as a member of the Elkhart county bar.

Mr. Wilson was elected the first mayor of the City of Goshen in 1868. He declined re-election. He was nominated by the republicans as the party choice for congressman from the thirteenth district in 1890, but the tidal wave that followed the enactment of, at that time, misunderstood tariff laws buried him with other republicans in defeat. He married Annjeannette Trumbull at Fort Wayne, April 26, 1855, the day following her graduation from college. Five children survive: Harry C. Wilson, now of Bluffton, but residing in Goshen; Lawrence Wilson, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Frank Wood, of New York City: Mrs. P. W. Nichols and Mrs. C. G. Beers, of Evanston. Mr. Wilson was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for nearly forty years, and was a Knight Templar.

The remains will be brought to Goshen Wednesday and will be taken to the home of his son, Harry C. Wilson, 310 South Main Street.

Goshen Daily News~Times, Tuesday December 14, 1909, page 1

Funeral of H. D. Wilson

The funeral services over the remains of H. D. Wilson will be held at the home of his son Harry C. Wilson on south Main Street, Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev E. A. Van Nuys will officiate and burial will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.

The Goshen Democrat, Friday December 17, 1909, page 1