Samuel Wilson, residing on section 36, Union Township, came to this part of the State in 1854. He first settled just across the line in Guthrie County, Orange Township. Carroll County was then attached to Guthrie County for judicial purposes. The first election in this vicinity was held at Copeland Grove, Carroll County. There were not more than a half dozen votes cast at that election. Mr. Wilson returned to Illinois with his family the following spring, but soon after came back and raised a crop on his place. Not being fully decided that Carroll County was the best place to settle, he resolved to go to Nebraska. He made the change, and located among the Indians, with whom he had spent much of his early life. This did not quite satisfy him, and he returned to the homestead, but soon after went to Tuttle’s Grove, where he made some improvements. In 1861 or 1862 he came to Coon Rapids, and he and Crockett Ribble built a saw-mill. Two or three years later they built the grist-mill, and Mr. Wilson sold his interest to Mr. RIbble, after which he engaged in farming. He was born in Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York, in 1819. His father, William Wilson, was a native of Ireland, and came to America when a young man with two brothers, settling in the State of New York. When Samuel was a child his parents removed to Ohio, settling in Sandusky County, where they lived until their decease. The father died when Samuel was nine years of age, and he was bound out to learn the trade of a blacksmith. The wife of the man to whom he was bound treated him so badly, and was so abusive to him, that he did not stay to complete his trade, but escaped to the woods and joined a tribe of Indians, with whom he remained the most of the time until he reached manhood. He adopted their habits to some extent, and went with them from place to place. He was in Chicago in 1832, or rather, where Chicago now is, there being nothing but a fort there at that time. He was married in Will County, Illinois, to Miss Emily A. Huyck, born in Saratoga County, New York. Her parents were Abraham and Asenath Huyck, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and latter of Connecticut. They removed to Michigan when Mrs. Wilson was about three years old, and six years later the family moved to Will County, Illinois, where the parents passed the remainder of their days. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had nine children, seven of whom are living — Alonzo N., Sarah E., George A., R. L., Lillie, Daniel and Nettie. Spending so much time with the Indians, Mr. Wilson’s education was extremely limited. His book knowledge was all obtained later in life, which was sufficient to enable him to become well informed on the topics of the day. Previous to the war he was an Abolitionist, but later became a Republican, being an uncompromising Union man during the war. He had no affinity for any person that sympathized with the Rebellion to any extent whatever. Mr. Wilson is a worthy representative of the early pioneer element of Carroll County.

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