17 Dec 2009

Wilson Selected Documents

Published Book

History and Statistics of Brown County, Kansas, compiled by E. N. Morrill, 1876.

...To determine with any degree of certainty who was the first settler is nearly impossible. A dozen men may have settled at the same time in different sections of the county, unknown to each other. Many of the old settlers who are now living in the county can only tell the month they came; and scores who settled here in the early days became dissatisfied and sought other and fairer fields, while many have, doubtless, travelled that journey from which no weary traveler has ever returned. To give the names of those who are known to have been pioneers in opening this county to settlement and to leave the question of priority open, seems the only true course to pursue. Many came in from Missouri, marked claims, made some slight improvements and returned to their homes to harvest their crops, previously planted there, and to spend the winter. Others, coming from a greater distance, made permanent settlements at once. On the 11th day of May, 1854, Thurston Chase and James Gibbons marked claims on Wolf river, the former taking the farm now owned by Mr. Pittman. They remained on their land two or three weeks, seeing no white man during that time. Mr. Chase broke several acres of prairie, and, returning in August, built a small log house which afterwards burned down...

...In June 1854, W.C. Foster settled in the eastern part of Nemaha county, passing over Brown county, under the impression that it was Indian Trust lands, A few months later, learning his mistake, he settled where he now lives. On August 3, of that year, E.R. Corneilison took a claim on Walnut Creek and on the 11th of the next March moved upon it with his family. His brother Wallace came at the same time. Thomas Brigham took a claim near Padonia at about the same time, and moved his family into the county the following spring. Henry Gragg settled in Powhattan township that fall, and Isaac Sawin and his son Marcellus settled on the farm now owned by Jacob Hayward and immediately commenced improving it. John Belk and his sons, William and King, took claims near Padonia, in November. James L. Wilson, William and Thomas Duncan, and __ Farmer settled near Robinson that summer or fall [1854]. William and James Metts took claims on Poney Creek, in November. Jacob Englehart settled on the farm now owned by B.F. Partch, near Hiawatha, and Benj. Winkles and his sons, Geo. G. and Benj. Jr., settled on Walnut Creek in the autumn of that year. Robert Rhea, who now lives southeast of Sabetha, took a claim in 1854. The winter of 1854-55 was a remarkably mild one, the ground remaining so free from frost that plowing could be done during the entire winter. In 1855, quite a number made homes in the new county. It is impossible to get a full or complete list of the names of all who settled in the county during this year. Among them were Amasa Owen, who marked the first road from Hiawatha to Walnut Creek, a year later Joseph Dean, Jesse Strange, J.K. Bunn, who was one of the first constables in the county; Henry Woodward, James W. Belts, John G. Spencer, Jesse Duval, Henry Smith, afterwards one of the county commissioners of the county, who brought with him three slaves - a negro woman named Lena, and her two children; J. Peevy, Spencer Bentley, Geo. Roberts, Clifton Gentry, E.W. Short, Loyd Ashby, Thomas Hart, W.P. and W.J. Proctor, Stephen Hughes and family - Mrs. Hughes being the first white woman in Robinson township; A.B. Anderson, Ole Nelson, James Bridgman, Wm. Nash, who died in Dec., 1855; E. Huffman, Rudolph Zimmerman, Christian Zimmerman, John Moser, John Wilhoit, Bradford Sweangen, SoI McCall, T.J. Kenyon, John Sperry, Squire Griffeth, J.A. Alford, Thomas Strange, John & Wm. Vincent, Frank J. Robbins, John Poe, Wm. Purket, John Boggs, who died in May, 1857, and John Schmidt. John S. Tyler, afterwards assessor and county commissioner, settled upon the farm where he now lives. Enoch Painter, Philip Weiss, Isaac Chase, J.J. Weltmer, Jonthan Soden, Isaac Oxier, Wm. Webb, James Smith, James Cameron, James Waterson, T.J. Drummond, John Page, Daniel Miller. ....

Civil War Payroll

Kansas Militia in the Civil War, Adjutant General's Office, 1908.

Vol.1, Introduction

The Price Raid, named after Confederate Major General Sterling Price commanding the army of the Trans-Mississippi, was ordered by the Confederate War Department, to invade the State of Kansas for strategic reasons, with a force of about fourty thousand men.
Governor Thomas Carney then called into active military service all of the Kansas State Militia, placing Major General George W. Deitzler in command, in a proclamation dated October 8, 1864, which was made in compliance with General Orders No, 53? issued by Major General S.R. Curtis, United States Army, commanding the Department of Kansas, dated at Fort Leavenworth October 9, 1864; and also General Orders No, 54, by General Curtis, dated Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, October 10, 1864, declaring martial law throughout the State of Kansas, and ordering all men, white or black, between the ages of 18 and 60 years, into military service for the defense of the State of Kansas.

Vol.8, pp.47-48
Co. C, Brown County Battalion attached to 22nd Regiment

Name: J. L. Wilson, private
Joined and sworn in 15 Sept 1863 at Robinson by G. M. Bush.
Ordered into active service 14 Oct 1864 to Atchison by Brig. Gen. Byron Sherry.
Relieved from duty 29 Oct 1864 by Brig. Gen. Byron Sherry.
Number of Days in Actual Service: 20
Valuation of Clothing Drawn: 16.00
Horses in Service: 1
Names Present: J. L. Wilson

News Article

Robinson Index, Robinson, KS, [newspaper].

29 Sep 1893

J.L. Wilson, who lives about 4-1/2 miles southwest of Robinson claims to be the first white settler in Brown county, having settled here March 18th 1855. He is now past 63 years of age.

Obituary

Robinson Index, Robinson, KS, [newspaper].

11 May 1894

The funeral of J.L. Wilson was held on last Thursday. Mr. Wilson had long been a suffer from physicals [sic] ills but was always cheerful and pleasant, nothing seemingly affecting his cheerfulness. In the death of Mr. Wilson Brown county loses one of her earliest pioneers if not the earliest.

Obituary

The Douglass Tribune, Douglass, KS, [newspaper].

20 Jan 1933, p.6

DEATH OF MRS. BERG

Mrs. Sarah Ellen Berg, widow of the late Barney Berg, passed away at her home at Smileyberg, Tuesday afternoon, the 17th, aged 61 years. She had been ill for considerable time, but her condition was not bad until a few days before her death. With her late husband and family she came from Hiawatha, this state, 32 years ago, locating seven miles east of Douglass, where the little business point of Smileyberg is now located. She is survived by a son and a daughter, Elmer of Wichita, and Miss Millie, at home. She also leaves two step-sons. The funeral was at the M.E. church at 3 o'clock, Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Watts; interment beside her late husband in the Douglass cemetery.

Death Notice

The World Herald, Omaha, NE, [newspaper].

14 May 1936, p.22

DEATH NOTICES

WILSON-Frantz S., age 73 years, passed away at residence, 3341 Taylor, May 12. Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, Jennie; one daughter, Mrs. Nellie Riberdy; four sons, Harvey, William, Charles and Ray.
Funeral services from the Leslie O. Moore Mortuary Friday 2 p.m. Interment Forest Lawn.

Obituary

The Range Ledger, Cheyenne Wells, CO, [newspaper].

1 Dec 1949, p.1

Frank Gordon Wilson

Frank Gordon Wilson, son of James Lee Wilson and Pemelia Wilson, was born January 12th, 1873, at Robinson, Kansas, in the county of Brown. He departed this life on the 23rd of November, 1949, at the age of 76 years 10 months and 11 days.
Mr. Wilson was the third child in a family of seven children and spent his boyhood years on the farm home at Robinson. He was united in marriage to Christena Mae Robb on February 8th, 1905. The young couple established their first home on a farm near Robinson, Kansas. In the spring of the year, 1920, Gordon, with his family, moved to Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, establishing a new home where he lived the remainder of his life.
Mr. Wilson was brought up in a Christian home, and united with the church at an early age. He was a devoted husband and father. Two sons were born to this union, Luther Franklin, and Donald Edwin.
During his life, Mr. Wilson engaged in various occupations, one of them being that of the meek and lowly Nazarene, a carpenter. Mr. Wilson was an ardent friend and counsellor to many, and all who called upon him. A strong, well set up man, strong in his affections and in his human friendships. He loved his friends and his community and lived for a better world as he saw it. His was a long life well lived, and after having fought the good fight through a long illness, closed beautifully.
Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by one sister and two brothers: Mrs. Sarah Burg [Berg], Henry Wilson and Warren Wilson. He is survived by one brother, Charles Wilson of Atchison, Kansas: two sisters: Mrs. Alice Shelton, Alberta, Canada; Mrs. Hattie Hamby, Jamesville, Ill.[or Janesville, IL, or Janesville, WI]; by his widow, Mrs. Christena Wilson of Cheyenne Wells: his two sons, Luther Wilson of Lamar, Colorado and Donald Wilson of Cheyenne Wells, Colo; two grandsons, Edwin Wilson, now in the service of his country, the U. S. Navy. stationed at Memphis, Tenn.; and Wayne Wilson who is at home. Also by a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Brentlinger Mortuary with interment in the Cheyenne Wells cemetery.

Obituary

Clipping from unidentified newspaper
8 Jan 1958

Wilson Rites To Be Tomorrow

Funeral services for Charles Ervin Wilson, 80, who died unexpectedly yesterday afternoon at his home, 1020 South Seventh, will be held at the Stanton chapel at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, the Rev. L. A. Indlecoffer officiating. Burial will be in the highland cemetery.
He was born at Robinson June 3, 1877, a son of James Lee and Permelia Wilson, and resided in the Robinson and Horton communities until moving to Atchison in 1923. He was employed at LFM until 1929 and then engaged in construction work. He had been in failing health the past several months. At Falls City he married Miss Dora Rutherford, who passed away Feb. 20, 1955. He leaves a son, Roy V. Wilson of the home; a daughter, Mrs. Ethel Meyer, Atchison; seven grandchildren and a great grandchild.
He was a member of the United Brethren church at Robinson.

Published Book

Cheyenne County History, The Eastern Colorado Historical Society, 1979.

pp.293-294

FRANK WILSON FAMILY

Frank G. Wilson, his wife Christina, and sons, Luther and Donald, moved to Cheyenne Wells from Centralia, Kansas, around 1918.
They built a house on five lots in the West part of town known as Madden and Clark's Addition. This location is now known as 160 West 7th Street South, where the house still stands.
Frank was a carpenter by trade. He was a good and loyal worker and was employed at the Eichenberger Lumber Company where he worked for many years.
Christina, called Tina by her family, was a loyal homemaker who loved children. Down through the years she cared for the neighborhood children while their mothers worked.
Luther and Donald attended school and graduated from high school in Cheyenne Wells. Luther was employed at the bank and later worked at the Livestock Sales Commission in Lamar, Colorado. He married Florence Troue of Kit Carson.
Donald worked in the post office in Cheyenne Wells several years after graduation. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Schuette of Hugo.
Frank Wilson, Christina Wilson, Don, Luther, and Florence have all since passed away.