Henry A. Wilson was from Hudson, in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin, when he enlisted in the Hudson City Guards—Company G of the 4th Infantry—on April 19, 1861. On October 3, 1862, he was discharged for promotion to 2nd lieutenant in the newly-forming 30th Wisconsin Infantry, Company A. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant, same company and regiment, on April 8, 1864. Wilson mustered out of Company A, 30th Wisconsin Infantry, at Louisville, Kentucky, on September 20, 1865.
The following obituary is from the December 26, 1884, issue of the Baldwin Bulletin:
DEATH OF H. A. WILSON.
H. A. Wilson, Esq., so long, well and familiarly known to the bar and people of this county, died at his home in St. Paul on Wednesday morning. In his death the bar of St. Paul loose one of its oldest and best known members. He was an able and reputed lawyer, and in his intercourse with members of the bar was always considerate and curteous [sic], as was also his bearing at all times toward the court, and all in all a thorough gentleman, always kindly and considerate. These qualities won him a host of warm personal friends, by whom his loss will be deeply felt. For many years he practiced as one of the leading lawyers at the bar of this county, by whom he was highly esteemed. We had not the pleasure of knowing him in those days, of his prime, but those who were his associates speak in the kindliest terms of him, and his death will bring to them many pleasant and long cherished recollections. Gus will long be missed from the busy walks and exciting scenes of professional life. A large circle of warm, fast friends, bound to him by the hallowed associations of many years of social intercourse.
The following obituary is from the January 2, 1885, Hudson Star and Times:
Death of H. A. Wilson.
Died, at his residence in St. Paul, of an affection of the liver, Dec. 4th, HENRY A. WILSON, aged 53 years.
Mr. Wilson was born in Machias, Me., April 11, 1831. At the age of 14 he went to Boston, where he lived until 1855, when he came to Hudson, Wis., engaging in the first railroad from the St. Croix to Lake Superior. It was built in the midst of winter, and the party suffered much with hunger and cold. He entered the law office of Wetherby & Gray, and remained with them until he opened an office at Hudson in company with the Hon. H. L. Humphrey. When Fort Sumpter was fired upon in April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Fourth Wisconsin infantry. He accompanied Gen. Butler to Ship Island, and was present at the capture of New Orleans. About that time he was commissioned Lieutenant of Company A, Thirtieth Wisconsin infantry, and made the campaign with Gen. Alfred Sully. Upon his return he was detailed upon the staff of Gen. Rosseau, as judge advocate, where he remained until after the close of the war. He was nominated for district attorney of St. Croix county before he returned from the army, and was elected to the office, which he ably filled for four years. In 1874 he removed to St. Paul, where the law firm of Davis, O’Brien & Wilson was formed. Since that time the people of the northwest have been familiar with his history.
Few men in the northwest were better known or had more sincere and devoted friends than Mr. Wilson. In fact every one who knew him was his friend. He was always jolly, generous, kind. In business his integrity was never questioned—in society he was the life of every circle in which he met. As a lawyer he was always zealous in the interest of his clients—as a citizen he was enterprising and public spirited. He was ever ready to aid the poor and defend the weak, and absolutely fearless in his opposition to what he deemed injustice, no matter how high or powerful the source from which it came. He was always solicitous for the welfare of others rather than for his own. Brave, generous, charitable. Poor Gus. Thousands of friendly and aching hearts will forget his faults and cherish in loving rememberance [sic] his many virtues.
Mr. Wilson left considerable property which was disposed of by will. N. H. Clapp, of Stillwater, is executor.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 