Charles Henry Wilson, 1835-1890 [RG1571.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1571.AM:  Charles Henry Wilson, 1835-1890

Papers:  1790-1901
Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska:  Physician, Civil War Veteran
Size:  1.5 cu.ft.; 3 boxes

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Charles Henry Wilson was born in Pennsylvania on August 17, 1835. He received his formal education at Williams College and obtained a medical degree from the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Wilson enlisted in the Union Army, serving as Assistant Surgeon of the 110th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. On March 24, 1863, he was transferred to the 49th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers and was promoted to the rank of Surgeon. Wilson was to serve in this capacity until he was discharged on October 30, 1864. Following the war Wilson established his residence in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, serving as postmaster and physician for the mining community.

On December 17, 1863, Wilson was married to Maria Augusta Egerton of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. This union was to produce five children: Will A., Kittie, Louise Eno, Fannie Florence and Sallie. In 1887 Wilson determined to move his practice to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where his brother William L. Wilson was president of the Nebraska City National Bank. Leaving his family in Plymouth, Wilson began to build his medical practice at Nebraska City. By 1889 he had obtained sufficient capital to practice at Nebraska City and allow his family to join him. Shortly following the arrival of his family, Wilson was stricken by illness. He died on July 4, 1890, in Nebraska City.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of three manuscript boxes of material arranged in seven series: 1) Correspondence, 1839-1901; 2) Military and Medical Records, 1863-1883; 3) Financial File, 1790-1880; 4) Manuscripts; 5) Genealogy; 6) Printed Matter; and 7) Certificates.

This material relates to the life of Wilson, including his military career as Assistant Surgeon of the 110th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers and Surgeon of the 49th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Early correspondence pertains to military engagements of the Union and Confederate troops in Virginia. There are descriptions of camp conditions, skirmishes, casualties and the capture and looting of Bellaire, Virginia by Union forces. Additional correspondence relates to Wilson’s medical practices in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska City, Nebraska. Additional materials relate to financial matters, medical records, writings, genealogical and miscellaneous other information.

Note: For photographs, please see the photo component of the collection [RG1571.PH].

INVENTORY

Series 1 – Correspondence, 1839-1901
Box 1
Folder

  1. 1839-1857
  2. 1860-1869
  3. 1871-1877
  4. 1880-1887
  5. 1889
  6. 1890-1901
  7. Undated

Series 2 – Financial File, 1790-1880
Box 2
Folder

  1. 1790-1868, Contracts, receipts and insurance policies
  2. 1870-1880, Financial reports, receipts, power of attorney

Series 3 – Military Medical Records, 1863-1883

  1. 1863-1864, Military sick lists, mortality lists, supply records, invoices
  2. 1870-1880, Physician’s affidavits, hospital reports, invoice of hospital; Muster Rolls, correspondence, certificates all medical

Series 4 – Manuscripts

  1. Poems, short stories

Series 5 – Genealogy

  1. Genealogy of the Egerton family

Series 6 – Printed Material
Box 3
Folder

  1. Publications of Veterans Associations
  2. Publications of Veterans Associations
  3. Publications of Veterans Associations
  4. Publications of Veterans Associations
  5. Newspaper clippings

Series 7 – Certificates

  1. Marriage certificate, baptism record, honorary commission, postmaster appointment

 

Subject headings:

Egerton Family — Genealogy
Nebraska — Physicians
Nebraska City (Neb.) — History
Otoe County (Neb.) — History
Physicians — Nebraska
U.S. History — Civil War — Campaigns and battles
U.S. History — Civil War — Medical and sanitary conditions
U.S. History — Civil War — Personal narratives
Wilson, Charles Henry, 1835-1890


DAB/DJR/ab         06-27-1967
Revised TMM      05-14-2007

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Birth of the South Omaha Stockyards

The Birth of the South Omaha Stockyards

The 1918 Flu Pandemic in Nebraska

The 1918 Flu Pandemic in Nebraska

On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.