 The Denison Daily News Sunday, April 11, 1880 Dr. J.L. Jones was in town Saturday on a rather remarkable errand. His brother-in-law, Mr. Thos. L. Wilson, has been confined to his room for over a year by that fatal malady, pulmonary consumption, and is at present very low, with no hopes of recovery. Friday night he sent for Dr. Jones and told him he felt that he was near death's door and requested him to go to Denion the next day and select his burial clothes and other articles necessary for the event. He described exactly how he wished to be dressed for the grave - black coat and pants, and white vest, adding that as he had never been extravagant in dress he did not wish an expensive suit. Mr. Wilson, it may be proper to state, is not a professor of religion, on the contrary is a man w ho might be termed a free-thinker in the strict meaning of the words. To Dr. Jones, who had some conversation with him on the subject, he expressed a belief in some overruling power, but non in the Christian or any other religious teachings further than the generally recognized moral maxims inculcated. As to a future life he candidly confessed he knew nothing. Probably few person become so reconciled to their own speedy dissolution as to select their own grave clothes, and yet Mr. Wilson exhibits a philosophical mind. Why should any one shrink from death which is the lot of all? If we are about to go to a party we dress suitably for the occasion. Knowing we are soon to be laid away in the grave, why should we hesitate to describe to our friends how we wish to be robed when they come to look upon us for the last time, and pay the last sad rites to our mortal remains? Mr. Wilson is an old and highly respected citizen of Texas. He has resided in the state 35 years, and is now 45 years of age. Denison Daily News Saturday, Apil 17, 1880 pg. 1 DEATH OF Mr. T.L. Wilson Last Sunday the News mentioned the rather unusual circumstance of Mr. T.L. Wilson's sending his brother-in-law, Dr. Jones, to the city to select his burial garments. Mr. Wilson had been confined to his bed for a long time with pulmonary consumption, and realized the fact that he could not live many days. He died Friday evening about 7 o'clock. Monday last Dr. Jones read to him the article published in the News the day before, which briefly stated Mr. Wilson's views of religion and death, and he pronounced it as very correct. Dr. Jones says that he had been longing for death for several weeks, as he knew recovery was an impossibility, and to have conferred no pleasure. He was what is termed in these days a materialist. He recognized a ruling power in Nature, but did not pretend to define it, and looked upon life beyond the grave as lacking proof and extremely doubtful. He remarked to Dr. Jones a few days before he died, that death was to him a leap in the dark. He had frequently expressed fears that he would suffer during his last moments, but the closing scene was peaceful and apparently painless. The funeral took place at his residence, 4 miles east of town today at 10 o'clock. It was his request that public notice should be given that all who wished might be present. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, February 23, 1896 Mr. James A. Wilson, of Cleburne, Texas, spent a few hours Monday and Tuesday with Dr. J.L. Jones and family, east of the city. In the year 1871 Mr. Wilson (who was then only 10 years of age) left home and traveled over Texas with an implement salesman. Following this he went to California and engaged in the sheep business. His flock multiplied, and he prospered until at one time he was sole owner of 60,000 head. During the '80s the bottom, so to speak, fell out of the sheep business, and Mr. Wilson suffered severely, but was by no means bankrupted. Later he returned to Texas and is now located, as stated above, at Cleburne. As strange as it may seem during all of these 25 years he never heard a word from family or friends. Mr. Wilson's father died in the year 1880, the remains being interred in the Lankford burial grounds 4 miles east of the city. The son did not know of the father's death until informed by Dr. Jones. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, June 5, 1910 The saddest and most dejected home east of Denison is the old Lide Wilson place. The little humble home looks as if it was going to fall down, and everything about it is scraggy. Many happy and pleasant recollections cluster about that little home. Some of the most pleasant days of the life of the city editor of this paper were spent under that hospitable roof. It was the home that was opened to us after our house was destroyed by fire. We wish that Lide and Blanch could be put back there, for better neighbors never lived.   Lankford Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |