Wilson, Calvin F.

Calvin F. Wilson
1828-1903

Just as the Christmas bells had finished announcing the glad tidings of the anniversary of the birth of the Saviour at 12 o'clock Christmas morning sadness instead of joy entered the home of Cal F. Wilson on Fifth street, when the spirit of the veteran barber took its flight.  Death came quietly and peacefully to the aged Niles resident and the tearful relatives who surrounded his bedside hardly reailzed[sic] that the end had come.
Calvin F. Wilson was born in Halifax county, Va., in 1828 and with his parents went to Ohio. In 1846 he came to Niles to reside.  The gold discoveries in California then at their height gave him a touch of the gold fever and in 1853 he made the trip to California by way of the Panama isthmus.  He remained two years on the Pacific coast and his ambitions not being realized he returned to Niles.  Since then he has continued to reside here following his occupation as a barber.  Mr. Wilson was married to Henrietta Hill on Jan. 6, 1853, and had he lived until next Tuesday he and his wife would have completed their half century of wedded life.  They were the parents of five children, all, except Miss Lottie Wilson, of Washington, D.C. dying in infancy.
The deceased was one of the oldest and was as one of the best known and most highly respected colored citizens in this community. He enjoyed a wide acquaintance and he was held in high esteem by all his friends.  During the long period he followed his vocation here he has done work for generations of Niles people and performed services for no less than five generations of one family in this city.
The funeral services will be held next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the First Baptist church, Rev. Charles Ager officiating.  The remains will be laid at rest in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Republican, January 1, 1903, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

and

Just as the chimes in St. Mary's belfry had ceased heralding their midnight message of "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men," and another Christmas day was dawning, Calvin F. Wilson, a highly respected colored resident of Niles for many years, passed from this earth to meet his Maker.  He had been ill but a week with la grippe, which terminated in pneumonia and caused his death.
Mr. Wilson was born in Halifax, West Virginia, 74 years ago and came to Niles in 1846, having resided her continuously since that time, with the exception of two years spent in California.  He was married in 1853 in Howard township, Cass county. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Miss Lottie Wilson, who is an artist of some renown, and who resides in Washington, D.C., but who arrived here Wednesday afternoon and was present when her father passed away.
The funeral will be held from the First Baptist church Sunday afternoon, Rev. Chas. Ager officiating.  Interment will be at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday evening, December 26, 1902, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.)