WILSON, JOHN

WILSON, BROWN, FAUNCE

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/16/2004 at 14:33:42

Biography reproduced from page 438 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

The next to locate in the township was John Wilson, who on the 21st of April, 1866, found the place he wanted and made a claim on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24. He remained here until his death, which took place upon the 28th of December, 1869.

John Wilson was a native of Ireland, born in the county Derry, in 1813, but was of English descent. He emigrated to the United States in 1840, residing in Philadelphia, Penn., until 1861, when he enlisted in company B, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves, being discharged in 1864. He re-enlisted in company H, 91st Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving until Lincoln’s assassination. He participate in the battles of Mechanicsville, South Mountain, Wilderness, Richmond, Petersburg, Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg, and was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., July 3, 1865. He came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, July 27, 1865, and took a homestead of eighty acres on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 97, range 29, Burt township. He lived in Algona and worked the farm until 1869, when he moved on the farm. On Dec. 18, 1869, he engaged to work for a railroad company, and on the 28th of the same month was killed by a bank falling where he was excavating. Mr. Wilson was married before coming to this country to Ann Eliza Brown, of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had eleven children, eight of whom are living—Margaret J., John B., married and living in Philadelphia; Eliza M., wife of James Faunce, of Philadelphia; Samuel J., married and living in Portland township; William C., a sailor; Robert J., clerking for an establishment in Algona; Edward and Thomas A. Four of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

(Transcriber’s note: The township referred to in the first paragraph is Burt township.)