Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ALFRED H. WILSON. It has been said by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the dead are soon forgotten and, according to one of America's greatest poets, in writing of the dead, "All that breathe will share thy destiny; the gay will laugh when thou art gone; the solemn brood of care plod on, and each one as before will, chase his favorite phantom." Whether this be a universal truth or not, it is safe to say that few men of a past generation of Springfield will linger longer in the memory of the citizens of Greene county who were contemporaneous with him than the late Alfred H. Wilson, who only recently "went on the journey we all must go. This is due to the fact that he had the qualities that impress men. Prominent and prosperous in business, he established a character for integrity, public-spirit and the social amenities of life, and he became also one of the noted local public men of his day and generation, serving faithfully and well in positions of honor and trust within the gift of the people. He was one of our sterling pioneers, having been a resident of Springfield for sixty years during which he saw and took an active part in the development of the place from a straggling frontier village to the rich capital of the entire Ozark region. He was a man of great force of character and usually found in the lead when any movement was on foot for the betterment of his city and county. Tenacious of his own rights, he respected the rights of others, and in the best sense of the term he was always a gentleman in social intercourse, as well as a model citizen in the affairs affecting the public.
Mr. Wilson was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, July 21, 1835. He was a son of William and Cynthia (Wasson) Wilson, both natives of North Carolina where they grew to maturity and were married. Removing from the old Tar state to Rutherford county, Tennessee, they lived there a number of years, then, in 1854 made the overland journey to Greene county, Missouri, seven weeks being consumed in making the trip. The family remained awhile at Greenfield, Dade county, but soon thereafter came on to Springfield and established a camp on what is now the lot of the Silsby home on St. Louis street, but the family made their permanent location on a farm about five miles north of Springfield, and there began life in pioneer fashion, developed a good farm on which the parents of our subject spent the rest of their lives. Ten children were born to them, three of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Samuel Ware, of Greenfield, Missouri; Mrs. Oliver Ritter, of Greene county, and Elisha who also resides in this county.
Alfred H. Wilson grew to manhood on his father's farm and worked hard when a boy. He received his education in the public schools of his native community in Tennessee, and, remaining a great reader and a close observer all his life, he became an exceptionally well informed man. He began life for himself as a teacher, which he followed for some time. He was nineteen years of age when he removed with his parents to Missouri, and he was twenty-one years old when he left the farm and located in Springfield, where he first worked in the United States land office. Later for several years he was identified with the Holcomb-Thompson Company in the foundry business at Phelps avenue and Campbell street. During the latter part of his active life he was an associate of the late H. W. Diggins in the insurance business. The last ten years of his life were spent in retirement from active business. He was very successful in a material way and it is understood by his friends that he accumulated a comfortable income.
A considerable portion of Mr. Wilson's life was spent in public office, He was a loyal Republican and active in party affairs during his long residence in this locality in fact, was regarded as a local leader. He was the first man in Greene county to be twice elected to the office of county collector, in which he served two terms with satisfaction to all concerned. He was also elected city clerk and city recorder several times, proving all the while to be a faithful, able and conscientious public servant.
Mr. Wilson was married in St. Joseph, Missouri, October 26, 1868, to Maggie O'Noeal, who was born December 16, 1845, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of John and Catherine O'Noeal, who were born in Ireland. Mr. O'Noeal was a stone and street contractor. He paved nearly all the streets of Weston, Missouri, where he long maintained his residence and where his death finally occurred. His wife, Catherine O'Gorman, was also born in Ireland; they grew to maturity in the Emerald Isle and were married on board ship as they were on the voyage to America. To this union seven children were born, four of whom are still living.
Mrs. Maggie Wilson received a good education. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson one child was born, Charles A. Wilson, whose birth occurred November 30, 1872. He was educated in the schools of Springfield, where he grew to manhood. He is at present living in Wichita, Kansas, where he is engaged in the jewelry business. He married Tilly Jocobi, and to them two children have been born, namely: Dwight and Alfred J.
The widow of our subject lives in the old Wilson home on College street.
During the Civil war Alfred H. Wilson served in the Union army, ranking as first lieutenant, but he did not see actual field service. He went to Rolla, Missouri, in 1861, where he served in the quartermaster's office until the close of the war, performing his duties most faithfully and acceptably, and was honorably discharged.
Mr. Wilson formed an acquaintance at an early date with Martin J. Hubble and other pioneers of Springfield. A booklet recently published by Mr. Hubble relating reminiscences of certain old settlers contains the following excerpt from an interview with Mr. Wilson shortly before his death:
"It was a red letter day for Springfield about the middle of August, 1858, when the first overland coach arrived. The business houses were decorated, and men, women and children were out on the public square in force. If my memory serves me right, three coaches came in together--horses and coaches decorated with flags and ribbons, bugles sounding and the horses came up Boonville street hill at a gallop. Young John Butterfield, son of the promoter of the project, was on the first coach, and it was said that he made the entire trip through to California, but of course he was relieved for rest and sleep. The trip took about twenty-one days."
Mr. Wilson referred to the first stage coach through Springfield in the above interview. The stage line was discontinued about the date of the breaking out of the Civil war.
Mr. Wilson was called to his reward in the Silent Land on June 12, 1914, after a long illness, which he bore with fine Christian fortitude. The record he left will long be an inspiration to his descendants and those who knew him and were associated with him, for Greene county has never had a worthier name on her roll of honorable citizenship.
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