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Life Span Of Bill Wilson

Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was born November 26, 1895 in East Dorset, Vermont to Emily Griffeth Wilson and Gilman Wilson. Emily was bright and intelligent; she trained to be a schoolteacher, but often imagined being a doctor or lawyer (Cheever, 2005). Emily's parents were hardworking, no nonsense people, considered well off by neighbors, but they lacked the ability to form close relationships with other people (Cheever, 2005). Gilman Wilson, known as Gilly, lived in an inn run by his widowed mother, called the Wilson House (Cheever, 2005). Gilly would often drink and entertain the guests even as a boy. He was a charming bachelor and Emily hoped that marriage would turn him into a responsible man (Cheever, 2005).
As a child, Bill was constantly seeking his mothers' attention. He would quickly abandon projects she seemed to disapprove of, while redoubling his efforts when she showed her approval (Cheever, 2005). In times of anger toward her drinking husband she would beat Bill with a hairbrush. She often went on trips for her health, taking Bill's sister Dorothy (Cheever, 2005).
In 1904 the Wilson family moved to Rutland Vermont. This move would allow Emily and Gilly the distance from their parents they needed to live their own family life (Cheever, 2005). Bill had been used to a one room school, but now he was sent to a school where hundred's of students attended. He was tall for his age, and was teased by the students from the first day (Cheever, 2005). During this time, the Wilson marriage was unraveling. Gilly had been unfaithful and was drinking heavily, and Emily suffered multiple nervous breakdowns (Cheever, 2005). Emily then decided it was her marriage that was making her ill, so she left Gilly (Cheever, 2005). In 1906, at age 10, Bill learned that he would not see his father again, and his mother was leaving to study osteopathic medicine (Cheever, 2005). Bill was to live with his mother's parents. This incident was agonizing for...