John Wilson, Jr. was the youngest of nine children, and he grew to vigorous manhood in his native State. He crossed the Ohio River, and for a while lived near Cincinnati, which was then but a village. He afterwards moved to Miami County, where he spent the greater part of his active life, although just after his marriage (to Letitia Mills) he spent a short time in Montgomery County, the same State. He bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Miami County, and he became one of the moremost men of the county, which he represented in the State Legislature two terms, and for twenty-one years he was Clerk of the County Court. He also held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was a successful business man, and won his way to the confidence of the people by his unswerving integrity. He was a liberal supporter of all benevolent and religious objects, and was a leading member of the Reynolds Baptist Church, of which he was a deacon, and he took part in the exercises of the Sunday school. His wife was also a valued member of that church. Politically, he was a Wig until that party ceased to exists, and he then identified himself with the Democratic party. He and his wife left the old farm in Ohio in 1849 to pass their last days with their children, and he died April 10, 1866, she having preceded him to the grave ten years before, dying April 12, 1856, the father being buried in Ohio, and the mother in Indiana.

They had a family of twelve children, of whom eleven grew to maturity, and two are still living: Matilda, a resident of Crawfordsville, and the widow of Jeremiah West, who was a farmer; and Lydia, a resident of Indianapolis, and widow of Jehiel Crane. The deceased children are Annie, who died in infancy; Patsy, who married Joseph Hance, and did in Miami County, Ohio; Lucinda, who married David Sutton, and died in this county; Lewis M., who married Elizabeth Morris, was a farmer and died in this county; Catherine C., who married Augustus Brown, and died in Miami County, Ohio; Sarah Ann, who married Jacob Counts, a farmer of this county, and died here; John, who died in early manhood; Letitia, who married Davis Countys, a farmer of Ohio, and died in this county; Elizabeth, who married Robert Buckles, who was originally a farmer in Miami County, Ohio, whence he migrated to Nebraska, where she died; and Thomson J., who died April 8, 1893, in this county.

Thomas Wilson was reared and educated in his native county, attending the public schools in his youth whenever the opportunity offered. After his marriage he settled on his father's farm, and was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ohio until 1850. In that year he came to Indiana to take advantage of the cheap and exceedingly fertile land of Montgomery County that had not been worn out by extensive cultivation. He selected his present location in Walnut Township, buying at that time eighty acres of land, to which he has added more by subsequent purchase, and he now has one of the most desirable farms in this section, comprising on hundred and twenty acres of well-cultivated soil. His improvements are of a substantial order, and include a neat and cozy dwelling, built in 1890 at a cost of $1,000. The farm is given up to general farming, and a fine class of stock is raised upon it.

Our subject was married in his native county to Miss Annie Jane Counts, daughter of Elijah Counts, who was a prominent farmer in Miami County in pioneer times. He had been reared in Kentucky, and was there married to Margaret Wiley, who was a native of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have five children living, namely: Sallie, who was born September 2, 1849, and is now the wife of Manoah Brown, a resident of Coal Creek; Edwin Davis, who was born July 29, 1851, married Ellen, daughter of George Faust, and is engaged in farming in Walnut Township; Canzuda N., who was born August 29, 1854, and is now the wife of John Campbell of New Market; Lewis Sylvester, who was born April 12, 1857, and lives with his parents, assisting in carrying on the farm; and Gilbert B., who was born July 26, 1866. The Wilsons have lost one child, Nevada A., who was born December 17, 1853, and died in infancy.

Our subject has excellent business qualifications that have not only gained him a competency, but have won him recognition among his fellow-citizens as good material for a public officer. He has held the important position of County Commissioner for six years, was Trustee of the township one term, and has been a member of the National Horse Thief Detection Association. In politics he is a true Democratic.