Tuscola-Lenawee County MI Archives Biographies.....Wilsie, John 1837 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 25, 2007, 10:44 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) JOHN WILSIE is one of the Canadian settlers in Almer Township, Tuscola County, and has brought his thrifty and thorough agricultural methods with him, making them operate to great advantage to him in this fertile and fruitful country. Mr. Wilsie was born June 27, 1837, in the township of Burford, Brant County, Ontario. He is a son of John W. and Anna (Raymant) Wilsie. His grandsire on the paternal side was William Wilsie, whose grandfather came from Holland and settled at an early day on Long Island. He was a tanner by trade, and it is said was the first to build a tannery in New York City. His descendants are quite numerous. William Wilsie was born in the Empire State. Several of his brothers were in the Revolutionary War, and one, John, was killed in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was a tanner and farmer. His wife was a Miss Wilsie and bore him the following children: John, Jacob, Joshua, Thomas, Moses, Aaron, James and Sarah. He was married a second time and became the father of two daughters by that union. He was an early settler of Genesee County, N. Y., and in 1839 removed near Adrian, Mich., where his decease occurred. Our subject's father was born in Canada about 1796, having gone there to assist a man in moving his effects, and liking the country he remained and there married. He became a substantial farmer, but in 1862 removed to Watertown, Tuscola County where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land which he improved. He was over eighty years of age at the time of his decease; his wife still survives. She has been the mother of six children—William, Rosswell, Mary, Sarah, John and Anna. Our subject's mother was a native of New York and is a daughter of Rosswell and Mary (Cora) Rayment. The former was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a Baptist minister and a physician by profession, although he devoted himself to the agricultural calling. He reared a large family of thirteen children, of whom ten lived to be grown. He came to Michigan about 1860 and settled in Lapeer County. He was a son of Bansford Rayment who was a favorite with Gen. Washington. He was a band master, and the General made him a present of a fiddle. While on his way home he was murdered by a party of Tories. The news was brought to the family by a lad who witnessed the atrocity. John Wilsie received a common-school education. At the age of nineteen he left home and began blacksmithing which he followed in various places for six years. He came to Michigan in 1860 and in March, 1865, purchased eighty acres of land on section 4, Almer Township, Tuscola County, where he has ever since resided, but while he was clearing his own farm he was obliged to be a wage-worker in order to support his family, and at times worked on the lake as a sailor. He has speculated in lands to some extent and he is one of the best horse-shoers in the country and has a shop on his farm where he still does a good deal of fine blacksmithing. He has served as Deputy Sheriff of his county, and evil-doers stand in awe of his brawny strength and official position. Mr. Wilsie has been twice married, his first union being with Ruth Armstrong, to whom he was married March 29, 1859. She was born in Canada and is a daughter of John and Mary (Jones) Armstrong. She was the mother of the following children: William H.; Mary V., now Mrs. Burce; Emma M., Mrs. Ingles; John, Elmer, Charles W., and Ida M. Mrs. Ruth Wilsie died in September, 1871. His second marriage was with Clara A. Falkner, who was born in Hornelsville, N. Y. She was a daughter of Henry Falkner. No children have been born of this marriage. Our subject and his wife are believers in Christian Science. He has made his own way in the world and has gained a comfortable competency. Politically he is a Democrat and socially an alliance man. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/tuscola/bios/wilsie607gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb