Brooks County GaArchives Biographies.....Wilson, Joseph Daniel 1862 - living in 1913
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 19, 2004, 4:25 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 793-795

   JOSEPH DANIEL WILSON. An active and prosperous merchant, a whole-souled and
pleasant gentleman, and a progressive citizen, Joseph Daniel Wilson of Quitman
has contributed his full share in promoting the best interests of this section
of Brooks county. A son of Jeremiah Wilson, Jr., he was born November 12, 1862,
on the parental homestead in Brooks county, Georgia, four miles from Quitman.

   His grandfather, Jeremiah Wilson, Sr., was born in Ireland. He lived for a
while in Effingham county, Georgia, from there coming to the southern part of
the state, and locating in that part of Lowndes county that is now included
within the limits of Brooks county. The country roundabout was then heavily
timbered, with only here and there an open place in which stood the cabin of the
pioneer. Game of all kinds filled the forests, and the Indians, which still
claimed this land as their happy hunting ground, made frequent raids upon the
whites, ofttimes massacring many of the newcomers. The grandfather was a member
of a company formed for defense against the hostile savages, and for services
which he rendered in various Indian warfares was granted two lots of land. The
tracts which he selected for his own were in that part of Lowndes county now
included in Brooks county, one lying six miles north of Quitman, and the other
four miles to the northwest. He located on the latter tract, the removal from
Walton county being made with teams, the only mode of transportation in those
early days, before railroads were dreamed of. Clearing a space, he erected a log
house, splitting puncheon for the floors, and riving shakes for the roofs. He
was a well educated man, and did much of the surveying of public lands. In 1858
he surveyed and platted the town of Quitman. A successful agriculturist, he
carried on general farming with the help of slaves, continuing to reside on his
farm until his death at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, whose maiden
name was Betty Lucas, survived him a brief time.

   The only son in a family of seven children, Jeremiah Wilson, Jr., was five
years old when he came with his parents to Brooks county. Succeeding to the
occupation in which he was reared, and inheriting the parental homestead, he
carried on general farming throughout his active career, being assisted by
slaves until they were freed. He was quite prosperous in his undertakings, and
operated his land until his death, in 1891.

   Jeremiah Wilson, Jr., married Delilah Robinson, who was born in Wayne county,
Georgia, in 1829, a daughter of James Robinson. Her grandfather, Frederick
Robinson, was born either in England, or in North Carolina, of English parents.
He fought bravely for independence in the Revolutionary war, assisting the
colonists in their heroic struggle. About 1818 he migrated to Georgia, becoming
one of the early settlers of Wayne county. Purchasing land on the west side of
the Altamaha river, he began the improvement of a farm, and was there a resident
until his death. He married Jane Thomas, who was born in North Carolina, and
died in Wayne county, Georgia.

   One of a family of six children, James Robinson was born in Robinson county,
North Carolina, and came with the family to Georgia as a youth. When ready to
establish a household of his own, he bought land at Fort Barrington, Wayne
county, and began life as a tiller of the soil. Moving with his wife and their
three children to Lowndes county in 1834, he purchased land situated but two
miles from Throopville, then the county seat, making the removal with teams of
his own, they being not carriages, but carts drawn by oxen or horses. In 1836 he
disposed of that farm, moving to the west part of the county, in the part now
included in Brooks county. Purchasing a tract of land lying one mile west of
Okapilco creek, Mr. Robinson erected a log house, and began the pioneer task of
redeeming a farm from the forest.

People of this part of the Union then lived in a very primitive manner, there
being neither railways in the state, and no convenient markets near. All cooking
was done at the fireplace, there being no stoves, and all materials for clothing
was carded, spun and woven at home, every housewife being proficient as a weaver
and spinner, and also as a dressmaker and tailor.

   The maiden name of the wife of James Robinson was Sarah Gibson. She was born
in Wayne county, Georgia, where her father, Jack Gibson, was an early settler,
and the owner of a large rice plantation which he operated with slave labor.
Mrs. Delilah (Robinson) .Wilson survived her husband but a short time, dying May
20, 1892. Thirteen children blessed their union, as follows: Sally; Betty;
Jeremiah, the third; James, Frank; Alice; Henry; Janie; Joseph D., the subject
of this sketch; Mary; Robert E. L.; Lillie; and Thomas Jackson.

   Educated in the public schools of Brooks county, Joseph D. Wilson remained on
the home farm until 1885, assisting in its labors. The soil having no particular
attractions for him, he then began his mercantile career in Quitman, for three
years being employed as a clerk. Embarking in business for himself as a
haberdasher in 1888, Mr. Wilson has since built up an extensive and remunerative
trade in Quitman and the surrounding country, being liberally patronized by the
people, who have the utmost confidence in him.

   In his political affiliation Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, and active in party
ranks. He has filled various offices of trust and responsibility, for a dozen or
more years having been a member of the city council, and in 1908 having been
elected mayor of Quitman. Fraternally he belongs to Shalto Lodge, Free and
Accepted Masons, and to the Royal Arcanum.

   Mr. Wilson married in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1902, Daisy M. Justus, a
daughter of Edwin Justus. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are consistent members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/brooks/bios/gbs315wilson.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 6.6 Kb