Wilson, Henry Ralph 1880-1902

WILSON, MASON, PRESBURY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/13/2013 at 17:41:58

Elgin Echo, Thursday, 17 July 1902, from the Decorah Republican undated.

Foul Play Suspected.

Tuesday night, July 8, Henry Wilson of McGregor was found on the railroad track below the pocket city with three wounds in the back of his head from which he died the following afternoon. Wilson had been out to call on a young woman named Ellsworth, and she claims that they sat down on a railroad embankment, finally lying down with their heads on railroad ties. She cautioned Wilson not to get to close as he might be struck by the train. She claims that they went to sleep and the next she knew was to be awakened by the distress whistle of an engine. A train had passed them and was coming back, the engine having struck Wilson, causing the wounds. Trainmen claimed that blood on Wilson's wounds had partially dried and that there was blood on the woman's dress. Wilson was unconscious when picked up and did not regain consciousness. It is reported that the woman has an unsavory reputation. She is under arrest at McGregor and it is thought that the man is a victim of a jealous lover.

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Added by S. Ferrall 2/17/2017:

Henry Wilson, whose murderous assault we reported last week, never regained consciousness, but quietly went to sleep Thursday afternoon, the day after he was found. The funeral was held from his home Saturday afternoon, Rev. G.A. Frances officiating. His sisters, Belle, Etta, and Francis and brother John were all present. The recent death of their father makes this affliction doubly hard to bear.

~Elkader Register, Thursday, July 10, 1902. McGregor news column

Notes:
- 1900 US census, Mendon twp.: Thomas Wilson, HOH, widower, age 58, b. June 1842, in Norway; Henry R. Wilson, son, age 20, b. June 1880 in Wisconsin; John O. Wilson, son, age 18, b. March 1882 in Wisconsin; Etta P. Wilson, daughter, age 15, b. Jan 1884 in Wisconsin; and Frankie Wilson, daughter, age 13, b. July 1886 in Iowa

-Etta Pearl Wilson, age 18, died in Des Moines on March 14, 1903 and was buried at McGregor, Pleasant Grove cemetery. Parents Thomas Oliver Wilson & Melissa (Mason) Wilson -sources: Ancestry records: Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990 and Find-A-Grave memorial (info. not verified by this contributor)

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Added by Joy Moore 1/16/2020:

Source: Decorah Republican July 10, 1902 Page 2 Col 4

Foul Play Suspected.
Last Tuesday night Henry Wilson of McGregor was found on the railroad track below the pocket city with three wounds in, the back of his head from which he died the following afternoon. Wilson had been out to call on a young woman named Ellsworth, and she claims that they sat down on a railroad embankment, finally lying down with their heads on railroad ties. She cautioned Wilson not to get too close as he might be struck by a train. She claims that they went to sleep and the next she knew was to be awakened by the distress whistle of an engine. A train had passed them and was coming back, the engine having struck Wilson, causing the wounds. Trainmen claimed that blood on Wilson’s wounds had partially dried and that there was blood on the woman’s dress. Wilson was unconscious when picked up and did not regain consciousness. It is reported that the woman has an unsavory reputation. She is under arrest at McGregor and it is thought that the man is a victim of a jealous lover of the woman.

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Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 7, 1902 Page 4 Col 4

The McGregor Murder (?) Case
McGregor, Iowa. Aug. 4.—Judge Fellows held a special session of court here, to-day, for the trial of William Presbury held for murder of Henry Wilson, who was found unconscious near the railroad track two miles south of here, on the night of June 2d, and who died without telling his story of the tragedy. The trial resulted in Presbury’s acquittal.

The Ellsworth woman, who was with Wilson, has not yet been tried, being held without bail till the session of the grand jury.

Note: The June 2 date above I think is an error as the earlier account indicates it was July.

Murder of Henry Wilson
 

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