WILCOX, Shelton E., Rev. 1850-1936

WILCOX, BAKER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/25/2011 at 21:38:09

Rev. S. E. Wilcox,
Once Pastor Here,
Died at Des Moines

Reverend Shelton E. Wilcox, former Osage Baptist pastor, died at his home in Des Moines February 13, [1936] after a period of failing health. The immediate cause of death was bronchial pneumonia. Because of the snow-blocked cemetery, it was necessary to defer the interment, which was made later in Glendale Cemetery.

Reverend Mr. Wilcox was pastor of the Osage Baptist Church about forty-two years ago. He held other pastorates at Muscatine, Boone and Omaha, and prior to his coming west had served at Homer, New York. He retired from active church work in 1924, and has lived at Des Moines.

Mr. Wilcox was born in Ripley, New York, in 1850. He spent his boyhood in Wisconsin, then attended Colgate University with Charles Evans Hughes, now chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, graduating in 1877 as valedictorian of his class.

He was graduated from the Colgate Theological Seminary in 1880 and later received an honorary degree of doctor of divinity.

In his later years Dr. Wilcox was a member of the board of trustees of old Des Moines University, a Baptist institution.

Dr. Wilcox's death was the first break in his immediate family, which includes his wife, Sarah Baker, to whom he was married in 1880; three daughters, Misses Florence E., Oskaloosa, and Theodora Wilcox, Des Moines, and Mrs. Ethel B. Haughton, Des Moines; and four sons; Clinton, of Detroit, Michigan; Stanley, Minneapolis; and Philip and James, both of Des Moines. Three grandchildren also survive him.

[Mitchell County Press, February 27, 1936]