The New Leaf – Effingham, Kansas – 02 Sep 1921, Fri – Page 2
Mrs. Thalia Wilson, formerly of Effingham, passed away Aug 25, at the home of her son Homer, in Los Angeles, Calif. Mrs. Wilson was 72 years of age. She spent her girlhood in Ohio, graduating from seminary in Poland. In 1873 she was united in marriage to Hugh P. Wilson, who was at the time completing his education interrupted by his service as a soldier in the Civil War. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson entered the home mission field and devoted 19 years to Pioneer work in the development of the Presbyterian church in settlements in the prairies of Iowa and Kansas. In 1893, when the territory of Oklahoma was opened they carried their work into this field and at the time of Mr. Wilson’s death in 1895, they were engaged in establishing churches for the growing communities. After Rev. Wilson’s death, Mrs. Wilson returned to Effingham where she resided until she sold her home and returned to Poland, Ohio, in 1908 to care for her aged mother. Mrs. Wilson’s forceful personality combined with a warm human interest constituted a gift for friendship, and her death will be a sorrow to a wide circle of friends in Effingham. Mrs. Wilson was interested in the activities of this community. She was far-sighted and any one in trouble or grief found her a sympathetic friend. The writer lived in Mrs. Wilson’s home a year and knows this to be a positive fact. She is survived by six children: Chalmers, of Enid, Okla.; Homer, Curt and Oliver Los Angeles, Calif.; Dudley, Girard, Ohio, and Mrs. Geo. Zellers, Youngston, Ohio. Funeral services were held from her home in Poland, Ohio, Aug 31.