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WILSON, Thomas S.: Difference between revisions
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that a St. Louis paper, which he had on board, contained the announcement of his (Mr. Wilson's) appointment, by President Van Buren, as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Iowa. His appointment was renewed by Presidents Tyler and Polk. He continued Judge of the Supreme Court until a year after the admission of Iowa into the Union as a State in 1846. | that a St. Louis paper, which he had on board, contained the announcement of his (Mr. Wilson's) appointment, by President Van Buren, as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Iowa. His appointment was renewed by Presidents Tyler and Polk. He continued Judge of the Supreme Court until a year after the admission of Iowa into the Union as a State in 1846. | ||
In October 1847, Wilson resigned from the bench and entered into private law practice with his brother [[WILSON, David S.|David S. WILSON]] and [[SMITH, Platt|Platt SMITH]], a man with whom the judge had financed the construction of the Globe Building in downtown Dubuque, In 1883 the two attorneys successfully argued the landmark case of [[CHOUTEAU vs MOLONY]] before the United States Supreme Court. The same year Wilson presented the case of [[FANNING | In October 1847, Wilson resigned from the bench and entered into private law practice with his brother [[WILSON, David S.|David S. WILSON]] and [[SMITH, Platt|Platt SMITH]], a man with whom the judge had financed the construction of the Globe Building in downtown Dubuque, In 1883 the two attorneys successfully argued the landmark case of [[CHOUTEAU vs MOLONY]] before the United States Supreme Court. The same year Wilson presented the case of [[FANNING V. GREGOIRE AND BOGY]] before the Supreme Court. | ||
In April 1852, he was elected, without opposition, Judge of the District Court, and by successive elections, held the office until Jan. 1, 1863. He held the first courts ever held in the counties of Clayton, Delaware, Jones, Allamakee, Winneshiek, Black Hawk, Bremer, Chickasaw, Fayette and Clinton. Judge Wilson never had ten cases reversed during all the time he was on the bench. | In April 1852, he was elected, without opposition, Judge of the District Court, and by successive elections, held the office until Jan. 1, 1863. He held the first courts ever held in the counties of Clayton, Delaware, Jones, Allamakee, Winneshiek, Black Hawk, Bremer, Chickasaw, Fayette and Clinton. Judge Wilson never had ten cases reversed during all the time he was on the bench. | ||
Revision as of 02:13, 6 March 2014
WILSON, Thomas S. (Steubenville, OH, Oct. 13, 1813-Dubuque, IA, May 16, 1894). Wilson graduated from Jefferson College, Pennsylvania in 1832, and, after studying law two years, was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1834. He immediately began practice with General Stokely, at Steubenville.
Determined to go west and having a brother, Capt. George Wilson, of the 1st U.S. Infantry, under command of Col. Zachary Taylor, at Prairie du Chien, he went there with his wife and remained there until October 1836 when they moved to Dubuque.
In the spring of 1837, he was elected President of the Board of Trustees of the town of Dubuque. Iowa was then a part of Wisconsin Territory, and contained two counties - Dubuque and Des Moines. Until July 4, 1838, he practiced law in Dubuque, Mineral Point, Lancaster and Prairie du Chien. The first court ever held in Iowa Territory was held by Judge Wilson at Prairie la Porte, now Guttenburg, on the second Monday in September, 1838.
In the controversy concerning the right of the Government to lease the lead mines of Dubuque, the question was brought before the District Court, and Judge Wilson decided against the right of the Government to lease the mines, claiming that, while there had been an act of Congress in reference to mines in Indiana Territory, there had been none respecting those west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. As soon as the judge's decision had been sent to Washington, the Secretary of War, Honorable John C. Spencer, wrote the judge a sharp letter, intimating that he would speedily be removed from office.
In June, 1838, Wilson was nominated a delegate to Congress by the northern counties of Iowa; W. W. Chapman, of Burlington, was nominated by the southern counties. While taking a steamer, with the view of going south to canvass the southern part of the state, he was informed by the captain that a St. Louis paper, which he had on board, contained the announcement of his (Mr. Wilson's) appointment, by President Van Buren, as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Iowa. His appointment was renewed by Presidents Tyler and Polk. He continued Judge of the Supreme Court until a year after the admission of Iowa into the Union as a State in 1846.
In October 1847, Wilson resigned from the bench and entered into private law practice with his brother David S. WILSON and Platt SMITH, a man with whom the judge had financed the construction of the Globe Building in downtown Dubuque, In 1883 the two attorneys successfully argued the landmark case of CHOUTEAU vs MOLONY before the United States Supreme Court. The same year Wilson presented the case of FANNING V. GREGOIRE AND BOGY before the Supreme Court.
In April 1852, he was elected, without opposition, Judge of the District Court, and by successive elections, held the office until Jan. 1, 1863. He held the first courts ever held in the counties of Clayton, Delaware, Jones, Allamakee, Winneshiek, Black Hawk, Bremer, Chickasaw, Fayette and Clinton. Judge Wilson never had ten cases reversed during all the time he was on the bench.
Judge Wilson was elected two consecutive terms to the Legislature, in 1866 and 1868. At the session in 1866, he was tendered by the Democratic members, the nomination of United States senator, which he declined. He was also a member of the Cincinnati convention, and took and active part in the nomination of Mr. Buchanan for the presidency.
Judge Wilson has been twice married; his first wife, whom he married in Ohio before he came west, was Miss Anna Hoge, daughter of David Hoge, of Steubenville, Ohio. He married Miss Mary Stokely, his second wife, in 1864; they had five children.
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Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894, p. 246
Andreas, A. T. Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875, Online: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/state/history/andreas/bios/wilsont.txt
The Iowa Legislature. "Thomas S. Wilson," Online: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=6062