WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
LEROY ALBERT WILSON
(inventor, promoter, prospector)
BIOGRAPHY
Leroy "Roy" Albert Wilson was born March 16, 1892 in Midvale, Utah. He graduated from Jordan High School and the Utah State Agricultural College in 1916. Wilson attended Reserve Officers' Training School at Ft. Sill, OK. He served during World War I and was discharged as a second lieutenant.Initially active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon), Roy was excommunicated on September 21, 1926 for continuing to advocate polygamy after the practice was abandoned by the Church. He remained separated from the Church for the rest of his life.
Wilson was a businessman and prolific inventor. He created General Steam Corporation to develop his inventions, foremost of which were some efficient steam engines. Finances and condition of the general economy was a continual problem during the 1920s and 1930s.
In a effort to gain control of his costs, Wilson moved his General Steam business down to southern Utah. He acquired coal and iron ore properties in Iron and Washington Counties.
In 1936, headquarters of the company was moved to Cove Creek Camp in Bull Valley, Washington County. Equipment was acquired and moved in and buildings were built. However problems developed and General Steam went into receivership in 1939. The camp remained populated for some years thereafter.
Wilson got involved in Uranium prospecting in Kane County.
Wilson was murdered outside of Kanab on May 18, 1954 at the age of 62. He is buried in Plot Park_37_3_4W of the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
FAMILY
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Parents and Siblings:
Charles Milo Wilson Martha Jane Smith Wilson Thornton Jemima "Mima" Cliffman Wilson Leroy Albert Wilson Charles William Thornton Earl Joseph Thornton |
(xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married 10/6/1886; divorced 3/13/1897) (9/25/1860-10/30/1948) (married Joseph A. Thornton 8/11/1897) (6/28/1889-xx/xx/1957) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (3/16/1892-5/18/1954) (married as shown below) (9/11/1897-xx/xx/1959) (married Grace Greenwood) (11/19/1902-xx/xx/1984) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) |
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First Wife and Children: Marguerite "Rita" Nelson Wilson Leroy Albert "Bert" Wilson, Jr. Margaret McFarland Wilson |
(xx/xx/1896-xx/xx/1973) (married 6/19/1919; divorced xx/xx/1943) (9/16/1923-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (6/10/1928-xx/xx/2005) (married Xxxxxxx X. Pohl) |
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Second Wife and Children: Goldie Elverda Owen Gerald "Jerry" Ernest Soelberg Nolyn Soelberg |
(xx/xx/1902-5/18/1936) (married xx/xx/1928) (5/22/1934-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (5/9/1936-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Hardy) |
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Third Wife and Children: Maggie Veola Hatch Aaron Rasmussen |
(xx/xx/1908-xx/xx/1999) (married xx/xx/1930) (9/8/1944-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) |
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Fourth Wife: Annie LaVilda Johnson |
(5/9/1895-2/22/1959) (married xx/xx/1932) |
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Fifth Wife and Children: Marta Loss Rowe Marcia Rowe Klara Rowe Janice Rowe |
(8/22/1902-8/24/1998) (married xx/xx/1934) (1/4/1937-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Adams) (5/17/1938-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Petersen) (3/23/1945-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Pascoe) |
PHOTOS
TBDREFERENCES
Leroy Albert Wilson, Inventor - Promoter - Prospector, 1892 - 1954by Klara Rowe Petersen, 2013
(Large file: may take a while to load depending on your system)
The Doc Aiken Story: Memoirs of a Country Doctor
Book by George Russell Aiken, M.D.
158 pp, 1989
ISBN: 0938473018 / 0-938473-01-8
Includes a story about Leroy Albert Wilson
Geiger Counter Murder - cold case or hot case?
Article by Dixie Brunner about the murder of Leroy Albert Wilson
Southern Utah News, April 13, 2011
New information 57 years after famous Kanab murder?
Article by Natalie Carlisle about the murder of Leroy Albert Wilson
Salt Lake Tribune, April 19, 2011
Southern Utah Memories: Geiger Counter Murder story,
by Loren R. Webb, January 27, 2013
CRIME: The Geiger-Counter Murder
Article about the murder of Leroy Albert Wilson
Time Magazine, Monday, May 31, 1954
Death certificate for Leroy Albert Wilson
Find-A-Grave entry for Leroy Albert Wilson