OBIT: WILSON, W. Scott; 1905; Wilmore, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 20 Jan 1905 Volume 39, Number 2 W. Scott Wilson W. Scott Wilson, a former minister of the gospel, a writer for newspapers, a man known in all sections of Pennsylvania and who at one time had brilliant opportunities presented to him to make his mark in the literary world, was found dead in a cell at the police station in Altoona at 8:10 o'clock Sunday morning. Saturday night at 11:30 he was found lying in the street and locked up on the charge of intoxication. He was apparently sleeping at a few minutes before 8 o'clock when he was last seen alive by the authorities and ten minutes later he was found dead by Patrol Driver Frank Vaught who had walked into the cell room to see him. Death was due to heart failure. The deceased had a remarkable career for one of his years and few have had the opportunities that had been presented to him to make a name for himself. He was a brilliant, fluent talker and a man of more than usual intellect and was regarded as one of the best literary and well read men in this section of the State. He was a most able writer of prose and poems and numerous writings of his found their way into the metropolitan journals and the local papers. His career as a newspaper man was varied and began in the late '80's, when he did some writing for the Altoona Times and other local papers. Later and early in the '90's he established the Altoona Blade, a literary paper which suspended publication after a few issues. He then did writing for the Harrisburg Telegram and when the Free Lance was published in Altoona he was the chief of its writing staff. In more recent years, during the publication of the daily and Sunday News in Altoona he was its editor. His last regular newspaper work was done on the Johnstown Journal about a year ago since which time he frequently wrote poems for publication in the city papers. His wonderful vocabulary and use of the English language promised him a bright future in the newspaper world, but his continued dissipation wrecked his career and life and brought him to an untimely end. Mr. Wilson was schooled for the Methodist Episcopal ministry and was ordained and admitted to full membership in the Central Pennsylvania conference in 1873. His first charge was on the Williamsport circuit and from that time on to 1882 he filled the charges at Sinnemahoning, Loyalsock, Curtin, Clearfield circuit, Osceola and Houtzdale. His last charge was at Osceola during the year 1882 after which he left the church and went to Altoona and engaged in the insurance business. He was the general manager of the State Life Insurance Company of Indianapolis and also agent for the Mutual Beneficial Insurance Company of New York. At the death of General U. S. Grant in 1885, Mr. Wilson delivered the eulogy on the departed at a public meeting held in the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Altoona. It was an eloquent and brilliant oration and one most befitting the departed. His ability as an orator was well known and he frequently figured in politics, speaking for numerous candidates out for office. It was along in the latter part of the '80's that life met with business reverses and these coupled with domestic troubles caused him to begin his downward career which terminated in a life of dissipation. W. Scott Wilson was born at Wilmore, this county, on April 20, 1854. He was a son of William F. and Arietta Wilson and received his education in that town. He was converted at the age of 16 and three years later was ordained a minister of the gospel. He was married in Philadelphia and is survived by two sons and two daughters, whose whereabouts are unknown. He is also survived by one brother, Henry R. Wilson.