by Pat Rodgers
“Joe and I are Going Home”- these words are carved on a marker in a small private cemetery near McKinney, Texas. A life-sized image of Joe, A. M. Wilson’s faithful dog, lies on top of the marker. It was ordered and paid for by the man who rests beneath it. Augustus “Gus” Wilson, a simple farmer who denied himself every luxury in life, was one of the most colorful characters in Texas history.
Within his lifetime, “Uncle Gus”, as he was known, gave away between $800,000 and a reported one million dollars in money, stocks, bonds, blackland farms and other items of considerable value. His home was a crude log cabin with three small rooms built by his father in 1850. He dressed in cheap, dirty worn-out clothes, with worn out shoes and no socks. He had a long beard – never shaved or trimmed his beard.
Gus was born in Tennessee in 1845 to Addison and Ann Moore Wilson. His family was very poor and in 1849 they came looking for a better life. At age four, he walked with his older brothers and sisters most of the way to Texas, settling near the community of Roland.
As a young man, Gus saved his money from the sale of his crops. When a piece of land became available, he would buy it for fifty cents an acre. As he grew older, and stocks and bonds became available, Uncle Gus began to invest. His best investment was in railroad stock that paid $1,000 a month for thirty years. He bought more land with part of this money and at one time he was the largest land owner in Collin County.
Uncle Gus remained a bachelor all his life, confessing to his neighbor, Mrs. Ritter that, “I was always out in the woods hunting rabbits. When I quit hunting, I was too old to marry.”
Uncle Gus and his generous gifts of kindness are legendary. His favorite items to bestow were new cars, giving away more than 25 during his lifetime.
In 1960, Ross Orenduff, wrote fondly of his personal memories of Uncle Gus and relates this true story. “I was working at the Ford house when the T-Fords went out and the A-Fords came in. We were showing the wonderful model “As” when Uncle Gus came in to see them. Howard, the salesman greeted him. Gus said, “Howard, have you got a “town sedan”? Howard replied, “Yes, Mr. Wilson.” Well, gas it up and deliver it to the Widow Robbins. She is a hard worker, left with a bunch of kids and no way to go no-where”.
“Oh Yes Howard do you have a pick up?” “Yes Mr. Wilson”. “Well get it ready and deliver it to poor old Johnson Cox who runs a grocery store at Roland. He just has an old Model T to deliver his groceries from McKinney”.
“Now do you have a fancy little roadster?” “Yes, Mr. Wilson”. Well get it ready and put every damn thing shinny you can get on it and deliver it to that youngest Robinson boy. He is a hard-working youngster- figure the three tonight and I’ll give you a check for them tomorrow. “Yes Mr. Wilson.”
Another favorite item to give away was expensive blackland farms. Landowners returning from the field might find the deed or mortgage to their property hidden under their dinner plate. A few months before his death at the age of ninety Gus held the mortgage on three farms. He had a deed drawn up for each of the farms, saying, “These boys work hard, and are having hard luck.” The largest give away were deeds to four different farms- a value of $240,000.
Time and again he would underwrite the salaries of teachers to keep schools from closing. He literally paid for many churches, irrespective of denomination.
He gave away all his land including his home place before he died with the stipulation that he could live with the couple until his death. His grave marker with his faithful dog, Joe, resting on top, has the simple epitaph: Joe and I are going home.
The Texas Senate honored Gus with a Senate Resolution No. 7 for a portrait of him be hung in the Senate chamber in memory of his many unselfish deeds for the poor and oppressed.
As unassuming in death as in life, he was one of Collin County’s greatest philanthropists.
Visit historic 1911 Collin County History Museum in McKinney and hear more stories of legendary men and women of Collin County’s colorful past.
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