George Wilson

WILSON, SKILES, WALLACE, DROLLINGER, MITCHELL, STEWART, HATTON

Posted By: Sue Thielmann (email)
Date: 4/15/2005 at 18:53:02

From Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa 1887
End notes are by Suzanne Hunt Thielmann, 3great-granddaughter of the subject.

George Wilson, a pioneer settler of Jefferson Township, is an industrious and fairly successful farmer, occupying a comfortable homestead on section 2. He cam to Lee County in 1833, and has been in interested witness of the marvelous development of a rich section of country. He crossed the Mississippi river from Hancock County, Ill., and entered a tract of land which had not even been surveyed. This he slowly improved and cultivated , and when it cam in to market secured his title from the Government. The farming implements of that period were of the rudest description, and it took abundant toil to accomplish even small results. But Mr. Wilson persevered in his undertaking and finally established a comfortable home.

The father of our subject, Hugh Wilson, was born near Lexington, Ky., and after arriving at years of manhood went down to Tennessee and settled at a point on the Cumberland River, where in due time he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Stiles. His bride was born and reared in Tennessee and was of German and Irish descent and parentage.1 After their marriage they removed to Indiana, settling near the Wabash River, whence, after a time they proceeded to Christian County, Ky., and later crossed the Mississippi and went into Missouri, the proceeded South to Arkansas; after a time they returned to Missouri, and a little later went to Schuyler County, IL. Where they settled near the county seat, Rushville, and Hugh Wilson hew the logs for the first court-house that was built in the latter named county.

In 1834 Hugh Wilson, with his family crossed the Father of Waters, settling in what is now Jefferson Township. Here they improved a farm which was located in the first bottoms of the Mississippi, and know as Sand Prairie. They labored industriously and watched with unabated interest the growth and development of the Hawkeye State. Upon this farm the parents passed the remainder of their lives, and only one of their children is left to perpetuate their name, George Wilson being the only surviving member of a family of six sons and three daughters. The parent departed this life some years before the breaking out of the late Rebellion.

George Wilson remained with his parents through the various changes of location which occurred until they came to Iowa. He was born in Jackson County, Tenn., July 22, 1809, and after arriving at the years of manhood was married near Rushville, Schuyler Co., Ill., to Miss Rebecca Wallace of Jackson County, Tenn., who was born in 1812. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and removed from Tennessee to Illinois, where he died many years ago. The mother survived him several years, and died in Jefferson Township of this State. The were most excellent and worthy people, and reared they children to upright and honorable lives.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of ten children, of whom the following are living: Susan is the wife of Benjamin Drollinger, a farmer of Jefferson Township; Eliza A. married Henry Mitchell, and they also live on a farm in this township; George married Miss Lucy Steward,2 and manages his father’s homestead; Hannah is the wife of John Hatton a farmer of Cass County, Mo.

Mr. Wilson is the owner of 440 acres of land, mostly improved. He has been quite extensively engaged in stock-raising, and is in all respects a straightforward and honest citizen. He and his wife are members in good standing of he Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics Mr. W. is an uncompromising Democrat.

1 Susan’s maiden name was Skiles, sometimes spelled Skyles, and she was born in Maryland.

2 Lucy’s maiden name was Stewart.