Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Eugene C. Wilson
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
EUGENE C. WILSON, former Postmaster
of Clay Center, is one of the oldest residents of this place, having come here in
1874 when it was but an embryo town. He was
born in Theresa, Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 4,
1842, and is thus approaching the forty-eighth year
of his age. He lived there until the outbreak of
the Civil War, attending both the village and High
School, and being carefully trained by his excellent
parents to habits of industry and sentiments of
honor.
The inborn patriotism of young Wilson would
not permit him to stand idly by while his friends
and acquaintances were joining the Union army,
and he accordingly enlisted in Company F, 10th
New York Heavy Artillery, and served in the
eastern fortifications at Washington, with a regiment
2,600 strong. They were stationed there one
year. Mr. Wilson occupying the post of gunner, at
which he became an expert. The repeated concussions
finally nearly destroyed his hearing and
he was obliged to withdraw from the service. Upon
his partial recovery a few months later, he went
to Chicago, Ill., and re-enlisted in Company E, 9th
Illinois Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army
of the Tennessee, and operated in Mississippi, Alabama
and Arkansas. Mr. Wilson participated in
forty-four different engagements, and remained
with this regiment until it was mustered out at
Selma, Ala., in 1865.
Returning to Jefferson County. N. Y., Mr. Wilson
remained there for a time, then repairing to Lapeer
County. Mich., engaged in the mercantile business
at Hadley. and later established a branch store
in Linden, Tenn., which he operated for years.
In 1869 he crossed the Mississippi and sojourned
for a brief time in Kansas City and Ft. Scott,
where he officiated as State agent for the different
companies, putting up bridges through Missouri
and Kansas. The first structure was laid across the
Republican River, and another was built at Concordia.
In 1874 a company of men was organized
to engage in the manufacture of brick at Clay
Center, and Mr. Wilson joined them and subsequently
operated as a contractor. In pursuance
of this business he had a hand in building
nearly all of the permanent brick structures in the
city, and was thus engaged until a year after his
appointment as Postmaster, his commission dating
from April 22, 1886. He qualified on May 1, and
discharged the duties of the office with credit to
himself and satisfaction to all concerned.
After assuming charge of the post-office Mr.
Wilson acquired an interest in the post-office book
and stationery stand, with which he remained connected
a year, then withdrew to give his attention
fully to his official duties. He has a farm
of eighty acres adjoining the town limits, and a
snug home only six minutes walk from his place of
business. He has very little to do with politics,
simply voting with the Democratic party, and socially
belongs to the I. O. O. F.
The marriage of Eugene C. Wilson and Miss
Maggie J. Purvis, of Clay Center, took place at
the bride's home. May 17, 1873. The five children
born of this union are all living, and are named
respectively, Byron C., Clarence S., Blanche, Grace
and Bertie. Mrs. Wilson was born in Beaver
County. Pa., May 28, 1845, and is the daughter of
Samuel Purvis, who came to Kansas when quite
young. She is a member in good standing of the
Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Wilson is a
regular attendant, and which he assists in supporting.
The father of our subject was Suel Wilson, who
was born in New York State in 1809, and labored
as a general mechanic during his younger years.
Later he conducted a hotel in Jefferson County,
where he spent his last days.