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Show BILLY WILSON, OF HERMITAGE HOTEL, ENDS LIFE WORK WHEN AFFLICTED WITH INFLUENZA William G. (Billy), Wilson, builder of tho famous Hermitage hotel, -and one of the most favorably known' of western characters, died at 11:30 a. m. today at his home, 501 Twelfth street, of Spanish influenza. In tho passing of Billy Wilson, Ogdeii loses a citizen whose strength and rugged spirit has done much toward building the city and whose familiar figure was known to practically every person in the county. coun-ty. Ill Few Days. Mr. Wilson become ill of influenza a few days ago and, despite his strong constitution, tho malignant disease developed de-veloped until his condition -was serious. se-rious. His son, William W. Wilson, this morning telegraphed his youngest daughter, Harriet S. Wilson, at Los Angeles, that her father was verv low and asked her to return home. Within a half hour after he had sent the message mes-sage his father died. He is survived by his wife and three children, William W. Wilson, Flora M. Wilson and Harriett S. Wilson. Saw Spike Driven. Coming to Utah as a boy ol IS, he arrived in Ogden just in time to witness wit-ness the epochal driving of the golden spike on Promontory Point when the east and west were linked together with n railroad system, then the greatest great-est in the world. He was born at Hurlford, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of Benjamin Wilson, May 6, 1850, and his hardy Scotch ancestry gave him the character nnd strengtli which stood him in such good stead later in life when he undertook the pioneering pioneer-ing of Ogden canyon. Developed Ogden Canyon. Forty-nine years ago Mr. Wilson went into that then nearly impenetrable impenetra-ble gorge with his nxe and oxen and made it submit to his determined Effort Ef-fort until today it stands, finished and beautiful as one of the monuments of everlasting tribute to Uncle Billy Wilson. Wil-son. Establishes Hermitage. Mr Welsion took over the "old Hermitage Her-mitage camp about 30 years ago and made It a resort for recreation seekers, seek-ers, besides his headquarters for an extensjve logging and lumber business busi-ness which he developed from the natural nat-ural resources of the canyon and its tributary canyons, x As the splendid attractions of the place widened in popularity and attention, atten-tion, Mr. Wilson found it necessary to enlarge the Hermitage. His work in this regard made it a model summer camping, place and the yearly home of many Ogden people and tourists. Builds Big Hotel. In August, 1905, the famous Hermit-ace Hermit-ace hotel was finished, mruin nf nine. maple and oak cut in his own sawmill and built after bis own plan. It immediately im-mediately became a famous hostelry and extended its welcome to visitors from all over tho world. Despite the fame of his big hotel, Mr. Wilson remained true to his Old Hermitage hotel and spent his summers sum-mers there, visltin gthe big place only on business or to act as host at formal functions when his presence was Indis-pensible. Indis-pensible. In addition to his active career as lumberman and business man, Mr. Wilson found time to serve faithfully as county commissioner for nearly ten years and to lend his aid to many public pub-lic and private philanthropies. He was a beloved member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Ogden lqdge, No. 719. and for many years had been a member of the Weber club. Mr. Wilson also is survived by three brothers. They are John L. Wilson, 703 Twelth street; Andrew Wilson, 469 Twelfth street and Isaac Wilson of Big Horn, Wyoming. |