Jesse Wilson(1814-1904)

WILSON, KENNARD

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/5/2008 at 10:09:47

Maquoketa Record
December 7, 1904

Passed On.

Jesse Wilson, son of John and Hannah Kennard-Wilson was born March 16, 1814, in Crowland township, Lincoln county, Ontario, and died at his home south west of Maquoketa, Nov. 28, 1904, at the ripe old age of 90 years, 8 months and 22 days. Jesse was the 4th of a family of eight children, Cynthia, Merilla, Sela, Jesse, Anson H., Amy, Malos and Usul, all born in Canada, and all but Anson in the same log house, and all (except Sela who died when about six years old) removed to Iowa and attained to old age.

In company with Anson, he footed it from Canada, a distance of about 1500 miles and arrived at what is now Maquoketa on the 12th day of June, 1839. Uncle Jesse however soon returned to Canada and on Oct. 4, 1840, married Miss Sarah A. Chandler, and with her returning to Iowa the following year. Locating upon a preemption claim across the river north from what is now the Maquoketa lime works. In the winter of 1842 and ’43 in company with his father John Wilson, brothers Anson and Usul and the brother-in-law, Mahlon Brookfield began preparations for erecting a saw-mill, which they got into operation during 1843. The mill at once struck a paying business by securing contracts from Galena, Ill., for wagon lumber and chair stuff having almost a continuous night and day run.

He continued in this business until 1860, when he traded his interest in the mill property to Asa Delana for the farm upon which he resided until his death, meanwhile building, and for a long time occupying the house now known as the Lewis Wood place. He was now a farmer and in debt about $2,000. Some wise financiers predicted he would never pay out, but the very first year he turned off in one lump over $1100 worth of hogs, which was immediately applied on the debt. He also had hogs enuf left to stock the farm for the next year and pay running expenses. He was now assured of success on the farm, and he and his good wife continued to prosper until her death June 16th, 1888.

They were the parents of three children – Eliza, now Mrs. Ira Carter, of Oxford Junction, J. Shade, who died at Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 20th, 1903, and Samuel Chandler, who died Oct. 25th, 1855.

Mr. Wilson was married a second time to Mrs. Alphena Kennard of Canada, on April 27th, 1893, who survives him, and with the only child remaining, the grand children, and the only brother, and many friends and relatives mourn the departure of an ever useful and honorable man.

Mr. Wilson was not one of those men that took the greatest delight in studying out some mechanical proposition and putting into shape some new idea, his latest efforts on this line being the erection of a farm gate. Many trinkets and useful articles are in evidence of his mechanical skill and genius, each one bearing evidence of the finished workman.

As an old settler and territorial pioneer he has witnessed and assisted in almost the entire change in this country from a prairie wilderness to its present condition. To begin life at the time he did in this country meant something. The individuality that could begin at that time and battle its way thru the rigors of the pioneer life to a successful,