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Show WILLIAM G. WILSON, noted pioneer of Webir coiu-ty, who died at his home in Ogden yesterday of influenza. ! Bumiiiiiiiii . wiiii liiiit ilwi'ii I'liininmil 7UKCLE BILLY' WILSON OIES OF ILUEIi Special to The Tribune. OGDEN, Oct. 21. William G. Wilson, better known throughout the country as "Uncle Billy" Wilson, proprietor of the Hermitage hotel and resort in Ogden canyon, can-yon, died at 11:30 o'clock today at his home, 501 Twelfth street, from Spanish influenza, after three days" illness. In the death of Mr. Wilson the city and county has lost one of, Its pioneers and the man who developed Ogden canyon can-yon and made it one of the greatest mountain highways and resorts in the United states. He built the first log cabin in the canyon at the present site of the abandoned sawmill, known to thousands of tourists. In 1905 he built the famous log eahin hotel upon the hill and called it The Hermitage. The corner stone for the big hotel was laid on May 6, 1905, by a number num-ber of newspaper writers and cartoonists, headed by the late Homer Davenport and the late Alan Uovey. Mr. Wilson was born at Hurlford, Ayrshire, Ayr-shire, Scotland, May R, 1850, the son of, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wilson. When a small boy the family came to Utah. When IS years of age he saw the golden spike driven at Promontory. Forty -nine years ago "Billy" Wilson went Into Ogden Og-den canyon and built the log cabin and sawmill which he owned up to the time of his death. He established the old Hermitage Her-mitage camp about thirty years ago. In public life Mr. Wilson was a member of the board of county commissioners for ten years. During the time be was in I the county office he made it a hobby to build roads. As a monument, to bis work, the canyon road, as well as those elsewhere in the county, are of the best. He was a charter member of the Ogden lodge of Elks and one of the active members mem-bers of the Weber club for many years. He is survived by his widow, a son, William W., and two daughters, Hattle and Flora. All members of the family are in Ogden except. Miss Hattie, who Is in Los Angeles and has been advised of her father's death. The date of the funeral will be announced an-nounced later. |