William E. Wilson | |
---|---|
![]() Wilson (2nd from right) | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 1st district | |
In office March 4, 1923–March 3, 1925 | |
Preceded by | Oscar R. Luhring |
Succeeded by | Harry E. Rowbottom |
Personal details | |
Born | William Edward Wilson March 9, 1870 Mount Vernon, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | September 29, 1948 Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 78)
Resting place | Oak Hill Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Nettie Cook (m. 1900) |
Education | Evansville Commercial College |
Profession | Educator Insurance broker Public official |
William Edward Wilson (March 9, 1870 – September 29, 1948) was an American educator, businessman, and politician from Indiana. He served one term in the United States House of Representatives (1923–1925).
Early life and education
[edit]Born in Mount Vernon, Indiana, Wilson was the son of Jay W. Wilson (1819-1893) and Mary (Chaffin) Wilson (1832-1925).[1] He attended the public schools of Posey County and Evansville Commercial College.
Career
[edit]Wilson began his career as a teacher at the Evansville Commercial College. He later purchased the school and served as principal from 1888 to 1904.[1] After retiring from the school, Wilson worked as an accountant for a wholesale hardware company and secretary-treasurer of the Evansville insurance business run by his wife's family.
Politics
[edit]He served as deputy auditor of Vanderburgh County, Indiana from 1910 to 1912, and clerk of the circuit court of Vanderburg County from 1912 to 1920.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1920 to the Sixty-seventh Congress.
Wilson was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1924 to the Sixty-ninth Congress. Wilson's unsuccessful race for reelection, during which the Ku Klux Klan actively opposed him, was later chronicled by his son in an article for American Heritage magazine.[2]
After leaving Congress, Wilson was president of the Lincoln Savings Bank,[3] and he was later employed by Chrysler.
Personal life
[edit]In 1900, Wilson married Nettie Cook (1874-1945), the daughter of Stephen H. S. and Esther (Jarvis) Cook.[1] They were the parents of two children, including author and college professor William E. Wilson (1906-1988).[2]
He died in Evansville, Indiana, September 29, 1948.[3] He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Official Congressional Directory, p. 26.
- ^ a b Long, Hot Summer In Indiana.
- ^ a b "William E. Wilson, Ex-Congressman, Dies", p. 1.
- ^ Where They're Buried, p. 178.
Sources
[edit]Magazines
[edit]- Wilson, William E. (August 1, 1965). "Long, Hot Summer In Indiana". American Heritage. New York, NY: American Heritage Publishing Company.
Books
[edit]- Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.
- U.S. Congress (1925). Official Congressional Directory. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
Newspapers
[edit]- "William E. Wilson, Ex-Congressman, Dies". Palladium-Item. Richmond, IN. Associated Press. September 30, 1948 – via Newspapers.com.
External sources
[edit]- United States Congress. "William E. Wilson (id: W000621)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress