TRUMBULL COUNTY OHIO - BIO: WILSON-Wesley W. (published 1909) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Ann Hetrick MHet703234@aol.com April 26, 2000 *************************************************************************** The following sketch is taken from A Twentieth Century History of Trumbull County By Harriet Taylor Upton Volume II Published 1909 Pages 223-225 Wesley W. Wilson, who is well known in farming circles as well as among the business men of Warren, Trumbull county, is a native of Warren township, this county, born November 25, 1839, a son of Thomas Wilson, a native of the same county. The parents of Thomas were William and Lydia Wilson, natives of Virginia and of Scotch and German ancestry. They went to Ohio about 1800 and were among the little band of early settlers of what is now Trumbull County. Then, the Indian tribes were in full possession of the county, but seemed on friendly terms with the whites. No trouble was experienced by their presence, save when some thoughtless white man sold them liquor, and at such times the Indians were very quarrelsome. For many years after Mr. Wilson’s settlement deer, bear, wild cats, panthers and wolves were plentiful. Fish were also very abundant in the streams whose waters hand not been contaminated by coal and other mining operations. The early settlers all raised sheep and cultivated flax from which the women would spin and weave into cloth with which to clothe the family. The grandfather, William Wilson, secured a tract of timber land from whose dark forest he cut away sufficient clearings to obtain enough tillable land on which to raise all that the family and their stock needed to subsist upon. There the good old man lived, labored and finally died, aged eighty-seven years. His faithful wife had died a few years before. Thomas Wilson, father of Wesley W., was reared amid the pioneer scenes of his native country and attended the common district schools, whenever an opportunity afforded itself. These primitive schools were generally taught in log houses, but by much study he secured a good, practical education, as then counted. After Mr. Wilson had reached manhood, he bought a tract of land in Warren township and there built a log cabin, the same in which his son was born. The heavy timber was slowly but surely cleared away and the land put under a high state of cultivation. Here he lived and enjoyed life in common with other hardy pioneers, until about five years before his death, when he purchased land close to the city of Warren, and there built a home where he died, when he was seventy-six years old. He, too, had seen the great forests of Ohio transformed into a veritable grain field and a handsome, fertile garden spot. Thomas Wilson was first an ardent Whig in his political views, joining the Republican party upon its formation. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Riddle, a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Marinaus Riddle, who was, as far as can be learned, a life- long resident of Venango county. She died in 1859, having reared seven children: Emily, Henry C., Martha L., Albert and Mary (twins), Wesley W. and John. Wesley W. Wilson attended the common schools in his youth and advanced to the high school grades at Warren. At the age of eighteen years, he commenced teaching school and at twenty years of age, began to master the carpenter’s trade. When the first war cloud of the rebellion hovered over the national sky, in April, 1861, he enlisted for three months, as a member of Company C. Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and when to the front at once. He was in the battle of Rich Mountain. Soon after that, he was stricken with typhoid fever and was sent home, and did not return again, to join his command, but was discharged, August 29, 1861. He enlisted again, July 13, 1863, in Company G, Second Ohio Regiment, Heavy Artillery. He went South, and was attached to the Twenty-third, which served under General Scoville, also under Rosecrans and “Pap” Thomas, in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. He was with his regiment on all of its tedious marches and long, dangerous campaigns until the close of that terrible Civil conflict. He was honorably discharged, August 23, 1865, when he returned home, in impaired heath. In 1866, he went to Marion, Iowa, in search of health and resided there two years, then returned to Warren township, Trumbull County, Ohio. He succeeded to the ownership of a portion of the old homestead, which he still occupies. He has eighty-three acres in good state of cultivation, and all about the premises looks thrifty. Mr. Wilson has been twice married, first in September, 1866 to Melissa Templeton, born in Champion township, Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Maria (Shafer) Templeton. She died, December 7, 1871, and for his second wife, he married, December 25, 1873, Amanda Brobst, a native of Warren township, Trumbull County a daughter of John and Mary (Kistler) Brobst. Their children died in infancy. Mr. Wilson’s first daughter by his first marriage, Girtie E., married Willis P. Vesey, and they have two children—Morris and Blanche. In there church affiliations, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are Members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, he is a Republican, casting his first vote for President Lincoln. He has served his share of local positions, including that of trustee of his township seven years and also county commissioner. During his term as commissioner, the county court house was erected. His belongs to Bell-Harmon Post, G. A. R., and Old Erie Lodge No. 3, Masonic order.