Wilson, Francis Cushman, 1876-1952.

Francis Cushman Wilson graduated from the Columbian Law School with his LL. B. in 1903. In 1909 he became U.S. attorney for the Pueblo Indians. During his tenure in this position, Wilson represented Indian interests in a variety of matters, including suites to quiet title to Pueblo lands, to eject squatters, and to safeguard Indian access to water. He also represented Pueblo interests regarding whether or not the Pueblo Indians were subject to state regulation and taxation. Wilson resigned his position as Indian attorney in the fall of 1914. After an unsuccessful bid for Congress he returned to private practice, but remained involved with Indian issues. He was retained by several organizations to testify against and help defeat the Bursum Bill (also known as the Pueblo Lands Bill), and to draft a substitute bill. Declining health forced him to retire from active legal practice in 1942. Francis Cushman Wilson died in Santa Fe on January 17, 1952.

From the description of Papers on Pueblo Indian legal issues, 1913-1956 (bulk 1917-1930). (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 40565695

Francis Cushman Wilson was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on June 8, 1876. He was educated in the public schools in Winchester, and then entered Harvard as a member of the class of 1898. His studies at Harvard were interrupted in the middle of his senior year, when he volunteered with the army at the beginning of the Spanish American War. After the war, Wilson worked in the securities business in New York and Boston, and in 1900, moved to Washington D.C. to work for the Department of the Interior. While in Washington, he began studying law at the Columbian Law School, graduating with his LL.B. in 1903.

In 1907, Wilson came to Santa Fe as part of a team of federal officials investigating fraudulent mining patents on federal lands. Following the investigation, Federal Judge John R. McFie appointed Wilson clerk of the Federal District Court of the First District of the Territory of New Mexico. During his clerkship, Wilson formed a partnership with Judge Richard Hanna in a private law practice. The partnership lasted until 1912, when Hanna was elected to the Supreme Court.

Wilson resigned his clerk position in 1909, to become U.S. attorney for the Pueblo Indians. During his tenure in this position, Wilson represented Indian interests in a variety of matters, including suits to quiet title to Pueblo lands, to eject squatters, and to safeguard Indian access to water. He also represented Pueblo interests regarding whether or not the Pueblo Indians were subject to state regulation and taxation.

Wilson resigned his position as Indian attorney in the fall of 1914, when he was nominated to Congress on the progressive ticket. Following his loss in this election, he returned to private practice, but remained involved with Indian issues. He was retained by several organizations to testify against and help defeat the Bursum Bill (also known as the Pueblo Lands Bill), and to draft a substitute bill.

Wilsons career included appointments to the Committee on Conservation and Administration of the Public Domain; River Commissioner of New Mexico (1927-1931); Secretary of the Colorado River Commission (1927-1932), member of the Rio Grande Compact Commission (1928-1932) and member of the National Chamber of Commerces Committee on Interstate Compacts (1936).

In 1938, oil was struck on some lands in Lea County where Wilson held oil leases. He quickly organized and became very involved with the Wilson Oil Company. Declining health forced him to retire from active legal practice in 1942. Francis Cushman Wilson died in Santa Fe on January 17, 1952.

From the guide to the Francis Cushman Wilson Papers on Pueblo Legal Issues, 1913-1956, 1917-1930, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)