Hon. J. Harvey Wilson, one of the most prominent citizens of other days, and one of the oldest and most highly esteemed residents of Clarion, died Wednesday morning, February 2, 1921, about 3 o'clock. Mr. Wilson has been the victim of diabetes and has been under his physician's care for some time. Last Sunday night his daughter, Mrs. A. B. Collner, took care of him and saw him safely in bed and watched over him until midnight, when she went home, as he seemed so much better and was sleeping so well, leaving other members of the family in the house with him. Along about 3 o'clock Monday morning he arose and putting on his underwear and a pair of socks he went out, probably under mental desire or delusion, and walked out Liberty Street toward the fairgrounds. His absence from the house was discovered in just a little while and a search for him was immediately instituted and parties started in all directions, but still he was not found. A couple young men taking flashlights succeeded in getting his tracks and followed him out Liberty Street and found him wandering on the pike near the fairgrounds at about six o'clock. He was taken to the home of Geo. C. Nail until arrangements could be made to get him to his home on Liberty Street, near Seventh Avenue. The exposure to a man in his weakened condition could not but prove serious. Pneumonia set in and could not be overcome. John Harvey Wilson was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Callen) Wilson, and was born Jan. 24, 1841, in Monroe Township, Clarion County. He grew up on the old Wilson homestead and received his education in the public schools and at Reid Institute, under the patronage of the Baptist Church. He taught school several years and afterwards went into the merchandising business at Reidsburg, in which he continued for a number of years. But he was mainly interested in agricultural pursuits including stock raising during the past thirty years or more, having the ownership or control of about 1800 acres of fine farm land, generally in Monroe and Clarion townships. In this connection he was quite prominent for years in the Clarion County Fair Association, and for many years was a member of the State Board of Agriculture for this county and aided very materially in extending agricultural interests as Chairman of Farmers Institutes for the county. About thirty years ago he moved to Clarion and made his home here, but still kept up his interest in all phases of agriculture. Mr. Wilson was a staunch Democrat and did much for the success of the party. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly in 1875-76 and was again elected a member of the same body in 1913-14. Between these terms as Assemblyman he was elected to the State Senate in 1886, and served one term of four years. It was during his senatorial term that he worked so hard and effectually for the establishment of the Clarion State Normal School.

Clarion Democrat - February 3, 1921