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BRAXTON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: VAN WILSON, Newton
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
September 26, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 276
Braxton County
NEWTON VAN WILSON, one of the experienced and suc-
cessful practitioners at the bar of Gassaway, is serving
the city as its attorney, and is rendering his community
an efficient service both in a public and private capacity.
He was born at Glendon, Braxton County, September 30,
1872, a son of William M. and Phoebe (Frame) Wilson.
William M. Wilson was born at Ireland, Lewis County,
West Virginia, January 4, 1826, while his wife was born
in Clay County, West Virginia, and she died in 1875.
Both were reared to farm life, and their educational train-
ing was restricted to that afforded by the local schools.
They were married in Clay County, and settled in that
county, which they later left, going to Texas. After four
years spent in the latter state they returned to West Vir-
ginia and located in Braxton County, where both rounded
out their useful lives, having been farming people. They
were consistent members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
In his political convictions he was a democrat. Of their
seven children four are still living, namely: Virginia,
who is the wife of J. W. Jackson; Glarvina, who is the
wife of John Q. Harris, of Canfield, West Virginia; Rob-
ert L., who is a resident of Centralia; and Newton Van,
whose name heads this review.
Reared on his father's farm, Newton Van Wilson first
attended the common schools, later a high school, from
which he was graduated, and he then matriculated in the
law department of the University of West Virginia, and
was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of
Laws. He was admitted to the bar of his native state
in 1897, and then settled permanently at Gassaway, where
he has built up a large and very important practice. At
one time he was justice of the peace, he has served on
the Board of Education, and is now city attorney. Having
faith in Gassaway, he has shown an interest in local con-
cerns, and is a stockholder of the Farmers and Mechanics
Bank of Gassaway.
Mr. Wilson married first Bettie A. Duffield, who died,
leaving four children, namely: Mertie C., Leonore, Goldie
and Garland. In 1920 Mr. Wilson married Miss Ettie Cor-
ley. There are no children of this marriage. Mrs. Wil-
son belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Fraternally Mr. Wilson belongs to Gassaway Lodge, I. O.
O. F., of which he is a past grand, the Grand Lodge aud
Encampment of that order, and is a past chief potentate
of the Encampment; and he is also a member of Frame-
town Lodge No. 196, K. of P., of which he is a past chan-
cellor; and of Gassaway Lodge No. 1558, L. O O. M. In
politics he is a republican, and has been elected to the
several offices on his party ticket. Skilled as an attorney,
capable as a man, and public-spirited as a citizen, Newton
Van Wilson is representative of the best element of his
profession and state, and reflects dignity and honor upon
everything with which he is connected.
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