Wilson, Dr. Joseph George

WILSON, CRIBB, LENT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plym. CC (email)
Date: 2/21/2005 at 16:57:35

Dr. Joseph George Wilson was born Dec. 5,1820 in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York to Joseph and Sally Wilson. Dr. Joseph G. Wilson's father Joseph was a farmer and carpenter in Scipio. By the mid 1830's the family moved to South Bristol, Ontario County, New York. On January 19,1841 in South Bristol, N. Y. Joseph G. Wilson married Susan L. Cribb daughter of Henry and Charety (Lent) Cribb. On Mar.10,1843 in Naples, Ontario Co. N.Y. Joseph and Susan had their first child George Riley Wilson.

In the fall of 1845 the family moved to Greenwood, McHenry Co. Illinois. They continued to farm. They had three more children Francis Adelaide Wilson born about 1846, Sarah Oliva Wilson born in 1848 and Dewitt Christian Wilson born in 1849.

But by January 1852 they packed up and moved to Dubuque County, Iowa. A few days later Susan gave birth to another son Adelbert Udell Wilson born in Dubuque, Iowa. Later on that year Dr. Joseph Wilson founded the town Farley, Dubuque Co. Iowa. He and his father and brothers made a home for Susan and him and the children. Dr. Wilson discovered limestone deposits there in Farley which later led to an economic boom. He had his hands into everything. His home became the first post office. He had the first church services in that town in his home. He help build the first church and hotel, and other important buildings in Farley. He was justice of the Peace while the civil war was on. He became an eye doctor and the best around. No on was ever turned away. If you couldn't pay for the treatment then you worked it off by doing chores around the eye clinic or the Wilson home.

They had the remaining children while in Farley. Mary Edna Wilson was born in July 1855. She was the first child born in Farley. Then came along Stephen C. Wilson born in 1856 and the last child was Emily Jennie Wilson born in 1862.

By 1880 the children were married off, and starting families of their own. Joseph and Susan sold everything and moved to Sioux Fall, South Dakota. By July 1881 Dr. Wilson died and was laid to rest at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery there. Susan moved to be closer to her children in Plymouth Co. Iowa. Susan kept helping people with their eye problems till she died on Nov.25,1904 in Westfield, Plymouth Co. Iowa. She was laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery in Akron, Iowa.