"Taps" has sounded once more and "lights are out" for Comrade Mort Wilson. But as the light faded from his eyes and the noble soul departed from its tenement of clay, the "reveille" sounded on the other shore and he was welcomed among the comrades above, where there are no more partings.

Mr. Wilson was born in Ohio 61 years ago. He moved to Clark county before the war. He was one of the first to enlist in the 21st Illinois, Grant's old regiment. At the bloody battle of Stone River, he was badly wounded. Gangrene set in and while he was suffering from this, he was attacked by measles. This so weakened him that he never was a well man again. The wound finally caused his death, which occurred last Saturday, at his home in Melrose township, 3 1/2 miles west of West Union. He leaves a wife and 11 children. His is the first death in the family for many years.

Source: Clark County Herald (Marshall, IL) 18 October 1900, p. 12

Morton Wilson died at his home in Melrose township, October 13, 1900, aged 61 years, 5 months and 3 days. He was married September 22, 1864, to Hannah M., daughter of Ebenezer and Malinda Bartlett. His death was the first in the family. He leaves a widow and eleven children. They were all with him in his dying hours except Edin C. of Snelling, Cal., and Mrs. Mary F. Poorman of Anthony, Kan. He leaves three brothers, Francis of Arthur, Joseph of Youngstown, Ind. and Geo. Russell; also one sister, Mrs. Mary L. Smith.

When our country was rent with civil strife, Mr. Wilson was among the first to offer his services to protect the flag. He enlisted Jun 21, 1861, in Co. H of Grant's old regiment, the 21st Illinois. He was in many hard-fought battles and fell desperately wounded at Stone River. Previous to being wounded, he had a serious attack of measles and the exposure on the march and in the field greatly weakened him. Then after receiving his wound, he lay in the hospital a long time and was honorable discharged at the end of his enlistment term of three years. He believed in the God of all and his conscience was his guide. He told his family that if he died "all was right."

Source: Clark County Herald (Marshall, IL) 25 October 1900, p. 9

61 years, 5 months, 3 days; Company H, 21st Illinois Indiana; Civil War