William Othello Wilson (1869 - 1928)

Born 16 Sep 1869 in Chewsville, Washington County, Maryland, USA

Descendants

Died 18 Jan 1928 at age 58 in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, USA

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Biography

William O Wilson was awarded the Medal of Honor.

William O Wilson is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army 23 August 1889-5 September 1893
Corporal, Company H, 9th Cavalry

William O Wilson was a Marylander.

William Othello Wilson was a recipient of the highest military honor in the United States, the Medal of Honor.^[1]

From the Medal of Honor Convention:

Indian Campaigns

Corporal William Wilson served in the U.S. Army for Company I and as a member of the 9th U.S. Cavalry Division. Wilson was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 18, 1891, where in December 1890 he demonstrated immense bravery in action at White Clay Creek, South Dakota. December 1, 1890.^[2]

From The Southern News, Richmond, Virginia, 15 October 1892:

William O. Wilson, private, troop I, 9th cavalry, for gallantry in action carrying a message for assistance through the enemy to Pine Ridge agency when the wagon train, under escort of Capt. Loud, with his troop D, 9th cavalry, was attacked by hostile Sioux Indians near the Pine Ridge agency, South Dakota, Dec. 30, 1890. ^[3]

The full citation is detailed in a newspaper article from 1953. William Wilson was a humble man and didn't talk about his exploits, and no one knew he had earned the Medal of Honor until his son happened to show the award to a reporter. The reported immediately recognized the medal, but the citation was missing. He researched and the War Department sent the following:

On the Morning of December 30, 1890, the wagon train of this command was attacked by hostile Indians. To obtain assistance it was necessary to send word to the Agency. The duty to be performed was one involving much risk, as the Indians, knowing what was intended, would endeavor to intercept the messenger and overwhelmed by numbers, certain death would follow. Corporal William O. Wilson, Troop K, 9th Cavalry, volunteered for the above duty and though pursued by Indians succeeded in its accomplishment. Such as example of soldier-like conduct is worthy of imitation and reflects credit not only upon Corporal Wilson but also upon the 9th Cavalry. This order will be read to each troop of this command and a copy furnished to Corporal Wilson and Regimental Headquarters. By order of Major Henry, John F. Guilfoyle, 1st Lieut., 9th Cavy, Battn. Adjutant.^[4]

His son, Herman, also recalled that his father said that he used four horses to reach his destination and the owners of the "borrowed" horses overlooked his use of their animals once they realized why he took them.^[4] This article also says that he enlisted at age 17 and remained in the Army for seven years. ^[4] While in the Army, William had been used mostly as an Indian Scout because he resembled the Indians and he even dressed as and Indian and mingled with them, hoping to learn of their plans.^[4]

While in the Army he learned to write in a flowery script, "Spencerian style," and earned part of his living with his fancy penmanship by writing out calling cards, wedding invitations, and other documents. He used to set up a small table outside the Hagerstown Bank building.^[4]

Early Life

He was born on 16 September 1869 in Chewsville, Washington County, Maryland^[2] to John B. and Ann M. Wilson. He was counted on the census in Chaptico, Maryland with them and a younger brother and sister in 1880.^[5]

At age 21 he joined the U.S. Army.

Marriage, Children

After his military service he married Margaret V. Jackson in Maryland c.1898.

Known children of the marriage:

1. Percy Wilson (1899)^[6]
2. Marilyn Wilson (1902)
3. C. Herman Wilson (1903-1977)
4. Elsie M. (Wilson) Comer (1905-2001)
5. Sadie (Wilson) Webb (1907-1993)
6. William O. Wilson (1910-1978)^[7][8]
7. Anna V. (Wilson) Jones (1912-2008)

They had a son, Percy, and were living in his father-in-law's household in east Hagerstown, Maryland when they were counted on the census in 1900.^[6] In 1910 they were counted in Hagerstown with ten-year old Percy-- and five younger children (who were mistakenly transcribed as another family) on the following page of the census;^[9] in 1920 Percy was not listed with them, but they were counted with six children, their seventh born c.1913.^[10]

Death

William Othello Wilson died in 1928 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.^[11] His medal is on display at the Maryland African American Museum in Baltimore.^[12] A photo of his gravestone is included among others on his Find a Grave memorial. Inscription:

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Othello_Wilson
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Varies, MOH Blog, [online blog entry],"William O. Wilson", Medal of Honor Convention, ©2017 Congressional Medal of Honor Society, accessed 4 September 2017. Cit. Date: 4 Sep 2017. See Wilson details for more information.
3. ↑ Negro Newspapers for the American Council of Learned Studies, (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress) in Ancestry.com. U.S., African American Newspapers, 1829-1947 [database on-line] (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013) This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors); citing The Southern News, Richmond, Virginia: 15 October 1892, column 5.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} The Morning Herald (Hagerstown, Maryland), Monday, 16 November 1953, pg. 16, col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://newspapers.com : accessed 22 April 2021)
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNQY-RZJ : 15 August 2017), William Wilson in household of John B Wilson, Chaptico, St Mary's, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district ED 4, sheet 93A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,514.
   • John B Wilson Self Male 44 Maryland, United States
   • Ann M Wilson Wife Female 40 Maryland, United States
   • William Wilson Son Male 13 Maryland, United States
   • John B Wilson Son Male 12 Maryland, United States
   • Sallie M Wilson Daughter Female 6 Maryland, United States
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M32J-PYT : accessed 6 September 2020), Wm O Wilson in household of Peary Jackson, Hagerstown city Ward 5 (east part), Washington, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 95, sheet 6B, family 139, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,629.
   • Peary Jackson Head Male 49 Maryland
   • Hanna L Jackson Wife Female 55 Virginia
   • Margaret Wilson Daughter Female 30 Maryland
   • Wm O Wilson Son-in-law Male 33 Maryland
   • Percy Wilson Grandson Male 1 Maryland
   • Upright Jackson Adopted son Male 21 Maryland
   • Mary Grant Sister Female 58 Maryland
   • James H Grant Nephew Male 25 Georgia
7. ↑ "Delaware Marriage Records, 1913-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3S5-3YQ : 24 September 2017), William O. Wilson in entry for William O. Wilson and Deanna M. Hargrove, 30 Jun 1954, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware; citing reference ID Item 671 cn 1140, Hall of Records, Dover; FHL microfilm 2,025,193.
8. ↑ "Delaware, Wilmington Vital Records, 1847-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28B-9THF : 29 November 2018), William O Wilson in entry for William O Wilson and Deanna M Hargrove, 1954.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2N7-TGN : accessed 6 September 2020), Wm O Wilson, Hagerstown Ward 5, Washington, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 149, sheet 3B, family 64, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 569; FHL microfilm 1,374,582.
   • Wm O Wilson Head Male 40 Maryland
   • Margrate Wilson Wife Female 37 Maryland
   • Percie Wilson Son Male 10 Maryland
   • Mavalin Wilson Daughter Female 8 Maryland
   • Hermann Wilson Son Male 6 Maryland
   • Elsie Wilson Daughter Female 4 Maryland
   • Saddie Wilson Daughter Female 2 Maryland
   • Wm O Wilson Son Male 0 Maryland
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67M-DXN : accessed 6 September 2020), William Wilson, Hagerstown Ward 5, Washington, Maryland, United States; citing ED 166, sheet 5A, line 37, family 123, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 676; FHL microfilm 1,820,676.
    • William Wilson Head Male 52 Maryland
    • Margarette V Wilson Wife Female 41 Maryland
    • Maroline Wilson Daughter Female 18 Maryland
    • Herman Wilson Son Male 16 Maryland
    • Elsie Wilson Daughter Female 14 Maryland
    • Sadie Wilson Daughter Female 12 Maryland
    • William Wilson Son Male 10 Maryland
    • Annie Wilson Daughter Female 7 Maryland
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #7101464 with photos, retrieved 4 September 2017
12. ↑ "Maryland African American Museum in Baltimore" is listed by Wilson's page in the Medal of Honor Recipients; however, the museum appears now to be called the Black American Museum of Baltimore, and seems not, at this writing, to have a website.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q8016396, en:Wikipedia