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. 1. 1839-1857

1. 1. 1860-1869

1. 1. 1871-1877

1. 1. 1880-1887

1. 1. 1889

1. 1. 1890-1901

1. 1. Undated

Series 2 – Financial File, 1790-1880

Box 2

Folder

1. 1. 1790-1868, Contracts, receipts and insurance policies

1. 1. 1870-1880, Financial reports, receipts, power of attorney

Series 3 – Military Medical Records, 1863-1883

Box 2

Folder

1. 1. 1863-1864, Military sick lists, mortality lists, supply records, invoices

1. 1. 1870-1880, Physician’s affidavits, hospital reports, invoice of hospital; Muster Rolls, correspondence, certificates all medical

Series 4 – Manuscripts

Box 2

Folder

1. 1. Poems, short stories

Series 5 – Genealogy

Box 2

Folder

1. 1. Genealogy of the Egerton family

Series 6 – Printed Material

Box 3

Folder

1. 1. Publications of Veterans Associations

1. 1. Publications of Veterans Associations

1. 1. Publications of Veterans Associations

1. 1. Publications of Veterans Associations

1. 1. Newspaper clippings

Series 7 – Certificates

Box 3

Folder

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

Subject headings:

Egerton Family — Genealogy

Nebraska — Physicians

Nebraska City (Nebraska) — History

Otoe County (Nebraska) — 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