George and Isabella Wilson’s biography, Kalamo Township, Eaton County, 
Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the 
USGenWeb Archives.  

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A HISTORY OF KALAMO TOWNSHIP
KALAMO TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY-1989
Page 7
GEORGE & ISABELLA (KERR) WILSON

In the 1800's in Belfast, Ireland, George Wilson and Isabella Kerr became 
engaged to be married, and decided to immigrate to America.

George came to New York first, arriving safely. But Isabella came on a 
later ship that was shipwrecked just outside New York harbor. Isabella had 
with her a featherbed, things for housekeeping and a trunk of silks and 
velvet with which she intended to make hats. As the ship was going down 
one of the sailors cried, "I'll help you what I can, Lass." He threw her 
featherbed into the water and her on it. Thus the story that she "floated 
into New York harbor on her featherbed."

Isabella Kerr lost all of her possessions but she survived to marry George 
Wilson on May 9, 1852. They came to Litchfield, Michigan because her 
sister had previously settled there. The sisters were very fine milliners, 
having learned by serving a long apprenticeship of several years.

George Wilson was a linen weaver in Ireland but in American he became a 
farmer. They lived in Litchfield until 1856 then came to Bellevue and 
purchased land in south Kalamo Township, about five miles north of 
Bellevue on what is now Ionia Road.

Isabella helped clear the land, but when a lady would call to have a hat 
made, Mrs Wilson would go into the house, clean up, don a large apron and 
make her a lovely hat.

The Wilson's had eight children: William H., George W., Jesse A., Mary 
Jane ("Jenny"), Margarette Ann, James E., Sarah E. and Joseph C. The 
Wilson's added to their 40 acre farm as they were able, but when George 
contracted some kind of fever and realized that he wouldn't live long he 
planned how his business would be settled. He first asked Isabella with 
which one of the boys she would prefer to live. She said, "I guess Jess." 
George then gave his son Jesse the 40 acres adjoining the 40 that she 
would keep until her death. The land would then go to Jesse for her care.

George Wesley Wilson took his inheritance in financial help to attend 
Olivet College, but to each of the other three boys were given a 40-acre 
piece of land. The two remaining girls (Mary Jane had died at age 12) 
received $500 each.

Jesse Wilson married Cora Belle Johnson and they had eight children: 
Florence, Dorris, Allen, Harry, Laurence, Lester, Winnifred and Ferne.

In 1948 Laurence and his wife Ihlene purchased the family farm, and they 
operated it until his death, then it was managed by his widow and family. 
Today son Laurence O. Wilson and wife, Roberta, are on the family's 
Centennial Farm.