Willis, Nathaniel Parker
Nathaniel Parker (1806-1867), an American poet, humorist, and miscellaneous writer. He was born at Portland, Maine. He was educated at Yale and was engaged soon after to edit two annuals, The Legendary and The Token, for S. G. Goodrich. Later, he established the American Monthly Magazine at Boston. This was later merged in the New York Mirror. Willis traveled in Europe and Asia Minor writing. He wrote Pencilings by the Way during this journey. On returning to the United States he edited successively The Corsair, The New Mirror, The Evening Mirror, and The Home Journal. Titles of his writings are Two Ways of Dying for a Husband, Dashes at Life with a Free Pencil, and People I Have Met. Willis was the most prominent American journalist of his time. His humorous writings were much appreciated and his poems were popular. His books are little read at the present time.
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Willow-tree
The Willow, as might be expected, had many superstitious notions connected with it, since, according to the authorized version of the English Bible, the Israelites are said to have hung their harps on willow trees. The weeping willow is said to have, ever since the time of the Jews' captivity in Babylon, drooped its branches, in sympathy with this circumstance. The common willow was held to be under the protection of the devil, and it was said that, if any were to cast a knot upon a young willow, and sit under it, and thereupon renounce his or her baptism, the devil would confer upon them supernatural power.
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Wilmington (City port of entry)
a city, port of entry, and county-seat of New Hanover co., N. C.; on Cape Fear river, and on the Atlantic Coast Line, the Seaboard Air Line, and the Cape Fear railroads; 214 miles N. E. of Charleston, S. C., and 26 miles W. of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the most important commercial port of the State. There are steamboat lines to Baltimore, Charleston, and points on the Cape Fear river. Here are a United States Government building, a State armory, United States Marine Hospital, high school, the Gregory Normal Institute, waterworks, electric lights, street railroads, public library, National and State banks, and a number of daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals. The industries include the manufacture of cotton goods, lumber, flour, turpentine, fertilizers, foundry products, etc. During the Civil War the city was one of the chief ports of the Confederacy, and a notable resort for blockade runners, until captured by General Terry in 1865. Pop. (1910) 25,748; (1920) 33,372.
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Wilson
a city of North Carolina, the county-seat of Wilson co., on the Atlantic Coast Line and the Norfolk Southern railroads. It is the center of an important farming, cotton growing, and tobacco raising region. Its industries include the manufacture of carriages, foundry products, lumber, cotton and oil mills, and tobacco factories. Pop. (1910) 6,717; (1920) 10,612.
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Wilson
AUGUSTA JANE (EVANS), an American novelist; born near Columbus, Ga., in May, 1835. She lived some years in Texas; afterward at Mobile, Ala. Her works had great popularity. They include: "Inez" (1856); "Beulah" (1859); "Macaria" aria" (1864); "St. Elmo" (1866); "Vashti" (1869); "Infelice"; and "At the Mercy of Tiberius." She died May 9, 1909.
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Wilson (ALEXANDER a Scotch- American)
ALEXANDER, a Scotch- American ornithologist; born in Paisley, Scotland, July 6, 1766. In early life he was a weaver and teacher. He published a volume of poems in 1790, but being sentenced for a lampoon in 1793, emigrated to America. He was employed as editor of the American edition of Rees's "Cyclopædia"; but in his wanderings as peddler, he learned to love birds, and set about writing an ornithology. At his death seven volumes of this work had been published; the eighth and ninth volumes were edited by George Ord, and a continuation by Charles Lucien Bonaparte (4 vols. 1825-1833). Volumes of his poems were published at Paisley in 1816, and at Belfast in 1857. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 23, 1813.
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Wilson (FRANCIS an American actor born)
FRANCIS, an American actor, born in Philadelphia, in 1854. He made his first appearance on the stage in legitimate comedy in 1877. In 1885 he became leading comedian of the Mc- Caull Opera Company, in New York. Here he created the character of Cadeaux in "Erminie." He afterward organized his own opera company and appeared in many comic operas. He also appeared in plays under the supervision of Charles Frohman. He was the author of "The Eugene Field I Knew"; "Recollections of a Player"; "Joseph Jefferson." He wrote several plays, including "The Magic Ring"; "The Bachelor's Baby"; "The Dancing Master"; and "Making Good."
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Wilson (HARRY LEON an American editor)
HARRY LEON, an American editor and writer, born in Oregon, Ill., in 1867. He was educated in the public schools, and from 1896 to 1902 was editor of "Puck." He published "The Spenders" (1902); "The Seeker" (1904); "Ewing's Lady" (1907); "Bunker "Bunker Bean" (1912); "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1915); "Somewhere in Red Gap" (1916); "The Wrong Twin" (1920). He was a member of the Na tional Institute of Arts and Letters.
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Wilson (II)
HENRY LANE, an American diplomat, born in Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1857. He was educated at Wabash College and received the degree of Ph. D. from the National University of Chile, in 1911. From 1882 to 1885 he editor of the Lafayette (Ind.) was "Journal," and from 1885 to 1896 he was engaged in the practice of law and in banking in Spokane, Wash. In 1889 he was appointed minister to Venezuela, by President Harrison, but declined. From 1897 to 1905 he was United States minister to Chile, and from 1905 to 1910 United States minister to Belgium. Appointed ambassador to Turkey in 1909, he was transferred to Mexico before taking charge, serving in the latter country from 1909 to 1913, when he resigned.
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Wilson (III)
JAMES HARRISON, an American military officer; born in Shawneetown, Ill., Sept. 2, 1837; was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1860 and assigned to the Department of Oregon in the topographical engineer service. During the Civil War he served with distinction as an engineer, notably at the Richmond raid and the operations near Petersburg. He commanded the 3d Division of Sheridan's cavalry in 1864; participated in the capture of Fort Pulaski and the campaigns of Antietam, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and the Wilderness; commanded in the assault and capture of Selma and Montgomery, Ala., Columbus and Macon, Ga., and took a leading part in the capture of Jefferson Davis. On July 28, 1866, he was brevetted Major-General, U. S. A., for gallant and meritorious services during the war, and on Dec. 31, 1870, was honorably discharged at his own request. After leaving the army he was engaged in large railroad and engineering operations both in the United States and abroad, and on the outbreak of the Spanish-American War was appointed Major-General of volunteers and was assigned to the command of the 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, in the campaign in Porto Rico. His publications include "China, Travels and Investigations in the Middle Kingdom"; "Life of Andrew Alexander"; "Life of General Grant"; etc.
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