Thomas Wilson, born November 22, 1799, was also a native of Maryland. Thomas Wilson moved when a boy to Perry county, Ohio, during the early days of the settlement of that state. There he was married to his wife Charlotte, and made that his home for many years. Not satisfied to help settle one state, in 1835, with his family, he took the long and tiresome journey in wagons through the pathless wilderness and came to Macon county, now DeWitt county, and into Harp township. Here he purchased a claim of forty acres and also entered land from the government. There was a small log cabin on the claim, but he soon built a house which still stands on the farm owned by Andrew. Deer were numerous and wolves gave the few settlers here at that time much trouble.
Mr. Wilson was a man of unusual energy, enterprise and industry. He put his land rapidly into cultivation. Seeing there was a great need of a grist-mill and a sawmill, he erected a mill on the North Fork of the Salt Creek in section two, Harp township. In 1840 he added a mill stone which was a boulder such as are common on the prairies of this county. Then for many years people came from miles around to have their corn ground.
Mr. Wilson was a large cattle dealer for those early days and drove his herds to Chicago, where also he hauled his grain. When Thomas Wilson located in this county he had only his horses and wagon and from that beginning by hard work and close application to his business he worked his way up the ladder of wealth till he was the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land. He was on old line Whig in politics and one of the most active for the welfare of the township. His memory is still cherished as one who bravely bore the hardships of pioneer days and helped to make the paths smooth for those who came after. He died November 10, 1863, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wilson had twelve children, six boys and six girls, all of whom lived till they reached manhood and womanhood. Their children were: John, born February 22, 1821, died April 23, 1864; Joseph, born February 16, 1822, died July 8, 1855; Alley, who was born September 8, 1824, married Absalom Stubblefield, and died April 18, 1867; Aaron was born October 3, 1826, and died March 12, 1881; Mary, born September 18, 1828, died August 31, 1854; Sarah, born October 26, 1830, became the wife of W. H. Anderson and died November 30, 1872; Asa, who was born October 27, 1832, lives at DeWitt. Peter, who now lives in Harp township, was born October 15, 1834. Rachel was born October 8, 1836, and died April 19, 1859. Harriet, born July 27, 1838, died February 24, 1857; Caroline was born March 13, 1841, and died April 19, 1859.
Info from the DeWitt Co Gem Web site.
Mr. Wilson was a man of unusual energy, enterprise and industry. He put his land rapidly into cultivation. Seeing there was a great need of a grist-mill and a sawmill, he erected a mill on the North Fork of the Salt Creek in section two, Harp township. In 1840 he added a mill stone which was a boulder such as are common on the prairies of this county. Then for many years people came from miles around to have their corn ground.
Mr. Wilson was a large cattle dealer for those early days and drove his herds to Chicago, where also he hauled his grain. When Thomas Wilson located in this county he had only his horses and wagon and from that beginning by hard work and close application to his business he worked his way up the ladder of wealth till he was the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land. He was on old line Whig in politics and one of the most active for the welfare of the township. His memory is still cherished as one who bravely bore the hardships of pioneer days and helped to make the paths smooth for those who came after. He died November 10, 1863, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wilson had twelve children, six boys and six girls, all of whom lived till they reached manhood and womanhood. Their children were: John, born February 22, 1821, died April 23, 1864; Joseph, born February 16, 1822, died July 8, 1855; Alley, who was born September 8, 1824, married Absalom Stubblefield, and died April 18, 1867; Aaron was born October 3, 1826, and died March 12, 1881; Mary, born September 18, 1828, died August 31, 1854; Sarah, born October 26, 1830, became the wife of W. H. Anderson and died November 30, 1872; Asa, who was born October 27, 1832, lives at DeWitt. Peter, who now lives in Harp township, was born October 15, 1834. Rachel was born October 8, 1836, and died April 19, 1859. Harriet, born July 27, 1838, died February 24, 1857; Caroline was born March 13, 1841, and died April 19, 1859.
Info from the DeWitt Co Gem Web site.
Thomas Wilson, born November 22, 1799, was also a native of Maryland. Thomas Wilson moved when a boy to Perry county, Ohio, during the early days of the settlement of that state. There he was married to his wife Charlotte, and made that his home for many years. Not satisfied to help settle one state, in 1835, with his family, he took the long and tiresome journey in wagons through the pathless wilderness and came to Macon county, now DeWitt county, and into Harp township. Here he purchased a claim of forty acres and also entered land from the government. There was a small log cabin on the claim, but he soon built a house which still stands on the farm owned by Andrew. Deer were numerous and wolves gave the few settlers here at that time much trouble.
Mr. Wilson was a man of unusual energy, enterprise and industry. He put his land rapidly into cultivation. Seeing there was a great need of a grist-mill and a sawmill, he erected a mill on the North Fork of the Salt Creek in section two, Harp township. In 1840 he added a mill stone which was a boulder such as are common on the prairies of this county. Then for many years people came from miles around to have their corn ground.
Mr. Wilson was a large cattle dealer for those early days and drove his herds to Chicago, where also he hauled his grain. When Thomas Wilson located in this county he had only his horses and wagon and from that beginning by hard work and close application to his business he worked his way up the ladder of wealth till he was the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land. He was on old line Whig in politics and one of the most active for the welfare of the township. His memory is still cherished as one who bravely bore the hardships of pioneer days and helped to make the paths smooth for those who came after. He died November 10, 1863, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wilson had twelve children, six boys and six girls, all of whom lived till they reached manhood and womanhood. Their children were: John, born February 22, 1821, died April 23, 1864; Joseph, born February 16, 1822, died July 8, 1855; Alley, who was born September 8, 1824, married Absalom Stubblefield, and died April 18, 1867; Aaron was born October 3, 1826, and died March 12, 1881; Mary, born September 18, 1828, died August 31, 1854; Sarah, born October 26, 1830, became the wife of W. H. Anderson and died November 30, 1872; Asa, who was born October 27, 1832, lives at DeWitt. Peter, who now lives in Harp township, was born October 15, 1834. Rachel was born October 8, 1836, and died April 19, 1859. Harriet, born July 27, 1838, died February 24, 1857; Caroline was born March 13, 1841, and died April 19, 1859.
Info from the DeWitt Co Gem Web site.
Mr. Wilson was a man of unusual energy, enterprise and industry. He put his land rapidly into cultivation. Seeing there was a great need of a grist-mill and a sawmill, he erected a mill on the North Fork of the Salt Creek in section two, Harp township. In 1840 he added a mill stone which was a boulder such as are common on the prairies of this county. Then for many years people came from miles around to have their corn ground.
Mr. Wilson was a large cattle dealer for those early days and drove his herds to Chicago, where also he hauled his grain. When Thomas Wilson located in this county he had only his horses and wagon and from that beginning by hard work and close application to his business he worked his way up the ladder of wealth till he was the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land. He was on old line Whig in politics and one of the most active for the welfare of the township. His memory is still cherished as one who bravely bore the hardships of pioneer days and helped to make the paths smooth for those who came after. He died November 10, 1863, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wilson had twelve children, six boys and six girls, all of whom lived till they reached manhood and womanhood. Their children were: John, born February 22, 1821, died April 23, 1864; Joseph, born February 16, 1822, died July 8, 1855; Alley, who was born September 8, 1824, married Absalom Stubblefield, and died April 18, 1867; Aaron was born October 3, 1826, and died March 12, 1881; Mary, born September 18, 1828, died August 31, 1854; Sarah, born October 26, 1830, became the wife of W. H. Anderson and died November 30, 1872; Asa, who was born October 27, 1832, lives at DeWitt. Peter, who now lives in Harp township, was born October 15, 1834. Rachel was born October 8, 1836, and died April 19, 1859. Harriet, born July 27, 1838, died February 24, 1857; Caroline was born March 13, 1841, and died April 19, 1859.
Info from the DeWitt Co Gem Web site.
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