Henry Lane Wilson  

He is said to have owned the 'Fairview cottage on the East Shore and named it.

Henry Lane Wilson Ambassador To Mexico-284 was born 3 Nov 1857 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery, Indiana. He died 22 Dec 1932 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana.

He was son of James Wilson Lane and Emma Ingersolls his father was a descendant of the Mckees of Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana his grandfather being James Wilson m. Margaret Cochrane his father was James Wilson m. Anges/Nancy McKee her father was William McKee m. Miriam McKee (William & Mary being cousins) Wm. was son of Robert and Agnes McKee and Miriam was the daughter of James McKee & Jane Logan both James & Robert were sons of William McKee the Immigrant ancestor

Henry Lane Wilson married Alice Vajen , daughter of John H Vajen and Alice Fugate on 23 Oct 1883 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. Alice was born 21 Sep 1860 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana.

He graduated from Wabash College in 1879, read law in Indianapolis, and practiced briefly until 1882, when he became the owner and editor of the Lafayette, Indiana, Journal.

In 1885 he and his wife Alice moved to Spokane, WA, where he practiced law and engaged in banking and real estate sales. He prospered until 1893, when the financial panic and depression took most of his money

. An active Republican, Wilson campaigned for his older brother John, a member of the House of Representatives and Senator from Washington state, and supported Presidents Harrison and McKinley.

On June 9, 1897, McKinley appointed him as U.S. Minister to Chile, where he remained until 1904; Theodore Roosevelt appointed him U.S. Minister to Belgium, 1905-10; and he served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, 1910-13, during the Taft and Woodrow Wilson administrations.

During World War I, Wilson was president of the Indiana branch of the League to Enforce Peace, resigning in January 1917 because he thought some of its leaders were advocating a world alliance as proposed by President Wilson.

During the Harding and Coolidge years, Wilson remained active in business and served as counsel for US oil interests in Latin America.

He published a memoir, Diplomatic Episodes in Mexico, Belgium, and Chile in 1927.

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History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913, p. 777

Henry Lane WILSON, present American Ambassador to Mexico, was born in Crawfordsville in 1857, his father being James Wilson, who was born in the same place and whose ancestors came to Indiana through Kentucky from Virginia, and his mother, Emma Ingersoll of a New England family.

James Wilson, the father, graduated from the Indiana Law University in 1844. He later served two terms in Congress, winning his election the first time over Daniel W. Voorhees, the Democratic candidate, on the issue of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and State Sovereignty. In that day the joint discussion between these two young leaders of opposite political opinions attracted attention throughout the North and is still remembered by some of the older people in Indiana. At the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion, James Wilson entered the ranks of the Union Army and went to the front, from whence he was recalled by President Lincoln and commissioned to defend the Emancipation Proclamation throughout all New England, Pa, NY and Ohio. At the close of the war he was brevetted Brigadier General.

Some time after he took an active and high part in the councils of the Republican party and wo uld undoubtedly have been sent to the Senate or made Governor but for his oposition to negro suffrage without educational preparation.

He was appointed Minister to Venezuela by Andrew Jackson and died in that country at the early age of 42, at almost the beginning of what wo uld undoubtedly have been a distinguished career.

Henry Lane Wilson passed all of his earlier years, with the exception of two years in Venezuela, in Crawfordsville, receiving a primary education in the public schools and entered Wabash College in 1875. At that time Joseph F. Tuttle wqas President of the College and Edmund O. Hovey, Caleb S. Mills, John L. Campbell and Samuel S. Thompson were yet in the f ull vigor of their usef ulness and affording splendid examples of rugged piety and devotion to duty and of dignity and profound learning, and it is to the deep impressions made by these men that he owes in a considerable measure for whatever success he has achieved in life. During his college years he divided his time and interest between extensive and thorough reading and politics and political discussions, never missing a political speech that he co uld possibly hear and listening with eagerness and profit to the homely discussions of the farmers and odd characters for which Crawfordsville used to be famous.

His education and equipment for the world did not come easily, as at the threshold of his college career the family fortune was largely swept away. To the devotion, energy and self-sacrifice of his mother, he ascribes all of his success in life as well as the inc ulcation of those principles of morality, honesty and truthf ulness without which no man can attain lasting success. Among the members of his class who still remain in Indiana are: Albert B. Anderson, United States District Judge; Arthur B. Milford, Professor of English Literature at Wabash College and James H. Osborne, Professor of Latin in the same institution. Others who were in college at the same time, though not classmates were: Vice President Thomas R. Marshall; Charles B. Landis; Albert Baker; James Daniels; Harry J. Milligan and Harold Taylor.

In his earlier days he listened to the political speeches of Oliver Morton; Thomas A. Hendricks; Benjamin Harrison; Joseph E. MacDonald and the gifted, but erratic, Thomas H. Nelson, one of his predecessors in Mexico. He also received valuable political instruction from Col. Henry S. Lane and from his uncle, William C. Wilson of Lafayette, a distinguished lawyer and orator. He made his first political speech at age 20 at Waveland in Montgomery County in company with James A. Mount, who afterwards became Governor of Indiana. From that time on he was engaged in politics, and his public speaking has been carried on with greater or less success until the present day.

Following his graduation from college he secured a position as engrossing clerk in the State Legislature at Indianapolis and later entered the law office of MacDonald & Butler. He soon purchased the Lafayette Daily Journal and, as it did not prove a successf ul venture, sold it a year later without loss.

In 1885, he married Alice VAJEN, a daughter of John H. Vajen, a prominent and well known citizen of Indianapolis, and moved to the town of Spokane, in the eastern part of the state of Washington. There he resumed the practice of law, making a specialty of land practice. In this he made a pronounced success and his fortunes improved rapidly. About this time Spokane began the marvelous growth which has now made it one of the great cities of the Union, and he commenced investing in real estate with immediate and astonishing success. In the course of a few years he amassed a large fortune and became interested in banks, buildings, real estate and promotion companies. In the panic of 1893, all of this fortune was swept away, not through unwise investments or inability to meet his own debts, but through the failure of two banks in which he was heavily interested and by reason of being called upon almost sim ultaneously to bear the burden of the failure of other men for whom he stood as endorser or surety. He gave up all of his property and afterwards paid more than one hundred thousand dollars to clear his name and credit. During this period he was largely identified with the development of the state of Washington and with its politics, and his name was connected with a majority of measures of a public character in that section of the country.

Politics to him at that time was simply a diversion or perhaps a practical method of being of service to his brother, John L. Wilson, who was then, and continued to be until his death, an active figure in that state. When Benjamin Harrison was elected President, our subject had been living some time in the state of Washington and he, with his brother, managed to create a sentiment favorable to Harrison's nomination, which res ulted in his having a third of the state delegation. When Harrison was elected, he spontaneously offered Mr. Wilson the post of Minister of Venezuela, but, as he had no ambition in the direction of the diplomatic service at that time, he declined the offer.

When William McKinley was elected President, Mr. Wilson took a large part in the management of the campaign in Washington, Idaho and Montana and also spoke continuously for 40 days in the face of generally hostile and sometimes boisterous free-silver audiences. Early in 1897, President McKinley offered him the post of minister to Chile, and he accepted, going to that country with his mother, wife and 3 children. He remained at that post for 8 years his services being in every way successf ul and usef ul to his government. He came in time to exert great influence - an influence born to confidence and faith with the Chilean people, and was able not only to render substantial aid to the business and political interests of his own country, but to contribute in a large measure on two occasions to prevent war with Chile and Argentine Republic. Mr. Wilson's respect and liking for the Chilean people was very profound and this feeling was reciprocated, and the Chilean government has never ceased to follow him with marks of respect and esteem. Only recnetly the University of Chile, the oldest in America, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philsophy, Humanities and Literature, a degree that has never before been conferred on an American.

During Mr. Wilson's residence in Chile, he was twice transferred to other posts, once to Portugal and once to Greece, but was allowed to remain in Chile upon his own request. In 1905, Pres. Roosevelt promoted him from Chile to Belgium and upon announcing the appointment to the Associated Press along with those of two other gentlemen, said, "These appointments ae not made for poltiical considerations but solely for meritorious service performed." This was surely true in Mr. Wilson's case, since his apointment was opposed by both Senators from Washington. Mr. Wilson remained in Belgium 5 years and during that time saw King Leopold pass away and, as the special ambassador of the President, stood at the right hand of King Albert when he was enthroned. He had really only one important question to handle while in Belgium, namely: the Congo question, a most delicate and trying piece of diplomacy, which was managed to the entire satisfaction of the President and Secreatry Root. The locality of the post gave him access to many oppotunites for study, observation and travel in France, Italy, Germany, Holland and England the experience was altogether a usef ul one.

In 1910, President Taft, after tendering Mr. Wilson two embassies in Europe which he co uld not accept for financial reasons, sent him as ambassador to Mexico. Since he has been at that post, four Presidents have held office in that country: Diaz; De La Barra; Madero and Huerta. Three revolutions have been inaugurated and the times have been troublous and dangerous. There are 40,000 Americans in Mexico; nearly 10,000 in Mexico City. There is a larger investment of American capital there than in any other country and there is double the amount of work in that embassy than in any other of our diplomatic posts. Mexico is, therefore, aside from the glamour of social precedence which surrounds a European post, the most important diplomatic post in the service. Mr. Wilson's work in Mexico always had the f ull approval of President Taft and his cabinet, the former saying a short time after his retirement from office, 'What a misfortune it is that our rotten system of politics seems to require changes in our diplomatic service and thus bring about the loss of a man of the experience and ability of Mr. Wilson, who has served his country so faithfully for so many years and deserves the respect of his country's people. Men of his type sho uld never be forced out of the field of usef ulness." Mr. Wilson has been 16 years continuously in the diplomatic service is in time of service the senior member of the diplomatic corps, and has served longer in these capacities than anyone else since the foundation of our government.

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1 Henry Lane Wilson was born Nov 3 1856 in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He died Dec 22 1932 Indianapolis. son of James Wilson & Emma Ingersol Henry married Alice Vajen on Oct 24 1883 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Alice was born 21 Sep. 1860 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana. Death 20 Mar 1928 in Indianapolis, Indiana Both are buried Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Indiana.They had the following children:

2 M i. John Vagen Wilson was born 28 Feb 1889 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. John married Ruth McCabe
3 F ii. Warden McKee Wilson b 12 Sep 1891 Spokane Washington; d 5 May 1973 Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina of the American Legation at Caracas, Venezuela
4 M iii. Stewart Collins Wilson Stewart b. 23 J ul 1895 Spokane Washington Died: Nov 1980 probaby Ware Neck, Gloucester, Virginia; married 1915/Apr. 1922 Gertrude Wagoner Of Indianapolis, Indiana.; 2 sons
5. F iv. Helen Wilson b. 1896 Indiana

John Vajen Wilson was born Feb 28 1889 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana. John married 1909 Crawfordsville, Montgomeory, Indiana Ruth McCabe born Aug. 1887 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery, Indiana she was daughter of Charles McCabe and Anna S. Harding [-?-] Resided Hollywood, California.
They had the following children:

i Alice Virginia Wilson b. c. 1913/1915 Indiana
ii Anna Caroline Wilson b. c. 1918/1919 indiana

1900; Census Place: Spokane Ward 2, Spokane, Washington; Roll: 1751; Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 65
Household Members: Name Age
Henry L Nilson [Wilson] 44
Alice V Nilson [Wilson] 39
John V Nilson [Wilson] 12
Warden Mckee Nilson [Wilson] 9
Stewart C Nilson [Wilson] 4

1910; Census Place: Rushville Ward 3, Rush, Indiana; Roll: T624_377; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0122
Household Members: Name Age
Henry L Wilson 56
Alice Wilson 52
Helen Wilson 14

1920; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana; Roll: T625_452; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 84;
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Lane Wilson 62
Alice B Wilson 58
John V Wilson 30
Ruth M Wilson 31
Ward Mck Wilson 27
Stevert C Wilson 25
Alice Wilson 7 [4 11/12]
Anna C Wilson 1 [1 2/12]
Cynthia Harper 35

1930; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 608; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 46;
Household Members: Name Age
Henry L Wilson 72
Edna M Bodle 27 Lodger

1930; Census Place: Brussels, Belgium, Cons ular Service; Roll: 2638; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0
Household Members: Name Age
Warden Mckee Wilson 37

Social Security Death Index
Name: Warden Wilson
SSN: 244-72-5411
Last Residence: 28803 Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina, United States of America
Born: 12 Sep 1892
Died: May 1973
State (Year) SSN issued: North Carolina (1962

North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1975
Name: Warden M Wilson
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 81
Birth Date: 12 Sep 1891
Birth Place: Washington, United States
Death Date: 5 May 1973
Death Location: Asheville, Buncombe
Father's Name: Henry Lane Wilson
Mother's Name: Alice Vajen
Residence: Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina

Washington, Births, 1883-1935
Name: Stewart Collins Wilson
Date of Birth: 23 J ul 1895
Gender: Male
County: Spokane
City: Spokane
Father's Name: Harry L Wilson
Mother's Name: Alice Vajen

Social Security Death Index
Name: Stewart Wilson
SSN: 062-05-2333
Last Residence: 23178 Ware Neck, Gloucester, Virginia, United States of America
Born: 23 J ul 1895
Died: Nov 1980
State (Year) SSN issued: New York (Before 1951

1900; Census Place: Troy, Fountain, Indiana; Roll: 370; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 73
Name: Ruth M Mccabe
Age: 12
Birth Date: Aug 1887
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1900: Troy, Fountain, Indiana
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Charles Mccabe
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Name: Anna S Mccabe
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana

1910; Census Place: Crawfordsville Ward 1, Montgomery, Indiana; Roll: T624_372; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0170;
Household Members: Name Age
Charles M Mccabe 50
Anna Harding Mccabe 50
May Louise Mccabe 24
Halen Mirian Mccabe 17
Anna Harding McCabe 1 2/12 [14]
Ruth Mccabe Wilson 22 daughter
John Rogan Wilson 21 Son-in-law