Biography Samuel VanGorden WILMOT From J Beers, Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage...(Chicago: J.H.Beers & Co, 1895) Surnames ALDRICH ALLEN BUCK CLINTON COOK GERMAN HARRISON JARVIS MITCHELL MOSS OLSON PENNY PIKE ROCKERFELLER WASHINGTON WHITE Biography Samuel VanGorden WILMOT Samuel V WILMOT is one of the honored pioneers of Portage Co, and is familiar with it's history from the days when this was a frontier settlement, it's lands wild and unimproved and its few homes widely scattered. In the work of progress and upbuilding he has always borne his part, and well does he deserve mention among the founders of the county. Mr WILMOT was born in Tioga Twnp, Tioga Co, PA, Jan 15, 1821, and is a son of Uriah and Delilah (COOK) WILMOT. His father was born in the town of Farmington, Hartford Co, CT, Sep 20, 1786, and at the age of seventeen started with a horse and cart, traveling through NY and the Southern States, selling notions, being generally called by his customers "the Yankee Peddler." In his travels through NY, be became acquainted with the lady whom he afterward married. They located upon a farm in Tioga Co, PA, and when war broke out, in connection with his father-in-law, enlisted under Gen William Henry HARRISON, doing duty in northern NY, OH and IN. In 1821 he located with his family in Tioga Twnp, Tioga Co, PA, where he engaged in farming and in operating a sawmill until 1843, when he emigrated to Boone Co, IL, accompanied by his son Samuel and his family. In July, 1844, the others of the family came to the West, and in 1853 Uriah WILMOT settled in Portage Co, WI, securing eighty acres of land in Sect 34, Amherst Twnp, with a land warrant that was granted him by the government for services rendered in the war of 1812. There he lived until his death which occurred in 1860; his wife died on the old home farm in 1858. Their children were Amanda, widow of Edward WRIGHT and the mother of eight children; David, who wedded Mary Jane ALLEN, and is now deceased; Elizabeth, who became the wife of David ALLEN and both are now deceased. Phoebe, deceased wife of Chaucey GERMAN, of MI, by whom she had thirteen children, twelve of them reaching mature years; Samuel V, subject of sketch; George (deceased), married to Caroline WHITE, who is now living in Merrill, WI, and his five children born of their union; Joel, who died in PA in boyhood; John, who married Maria ROCKEFELLER, and is living with his wife and four children in Amherst, WI; Hester A (1), who died in childhood; and Hester A (2), now the wife of Irvin PIKE, of St Point, WI, by whom she has three children. The educational privileges of Samuel V WILMOT were very limited, he attending the district school in his native town during the winter of 1840-1. His father's family was large and their means limited, so at the age of six he went to live with is grandfather COOK, with whom he remained until sixteen years of age, when he ran away and joined the circus that had been giving a performance in Jackson, PA Being a great "tumbler" and good acrobat, he easily secured an engagement, but not satified with that life after a week he returned to his grandfather. A few weeks later he went to Ithaca, NY, and engaged as a coachman with a retired NY merchant who had built a summer home in that town, receiving $10 per month. A year later he returned to PA, where he engaged in the lumber business on a small scale until his marriage, with the exception of two winters spent in school. In Jackson, Tioga Co, PA., October 6, 1842, Mr WILMOT wedded Miss Emily WYLIE, daughter of David and Elizabeth (JARVIS) WYLIE, the former a native of PA, the latter of Canada, both now deceased. The grandparents, Simon and Elizabeth (BUCK) WYLIE, were of Scotch descent, and the former served in the Revolutionary war. David WYLIE was a farmer, and by his marriage had the following children: Carolyin and Wilhelmina (twins), Emily, Millicent and Donald. After the death of the father the mother married Melancton WYLIE, brother of her first husband, and their children were Mary, Lydia and Frank. Upon his marriage, Mr WILMOT purchased 150 acres of land, eighteen of which were cleared; but after a time it was proved that this property really belonged to some English gentlemen and not to the one of whom he had bought, and he had to pay for it a second time. He operated that farm until 1843, when with his family, he started by wagon to Buffalo, thence went by water to Chicago, where he hired a team and wagon to convey his household effects to Boone Co, IL The mud was so bad around Chicago that the men of the party had to carry the ladies, crossing their hand in "chair fashion," and stopping to rest whenever they reached a dry spot. On reaching his destination, Mr WILMOT, in order to pay for his team, was forced to sell a rifle, for which he had paid $25, receiving only $10 for it. He worked on a farm until Feb, 1845, when he went to St Point, WI, at that time containing only one house. There he left his wife, while he went further north and engaged in making shingles. In March she returned to her father's family in IL, and Mr WILMOT joined her in June, there continuing until Feb., 1850, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres in Sect 34, Amherst Twnp, Portage Co, WI In July he brought his family to Portage Co, and here began life in earnest. He added to his original purchase forty acres, and soon transformed his land into a rich and valuable farm. Mr WILMOT'S maternal grandfather and great-grandfather were Revolutionary soldiers, the former entering the army at the age of sixteen, while the latter served as one of Gen WASHINGTON'S body guards. With the blood of these heroes flowing in his veins, the spirit of patriotism was aroused in Mr WILMOT when the South threatened secession, and in 1861 he joined the Third Wisconsin Calvalry; his foot, however, had been injured in a threshing machine in IL, and in consequence he was not accepted for services, but his loyalty to the Union was never questioned. A brief record of the children of our subject is as follows: Elizabeth, born August 6, 1845, married Christian MOSS, now deceased, and they had three children - Albert, Charles and Samuel (she is now living with her second husband, Hayes ALDRICH, in Amherst, and their children are Raymond and Chester); Wilhelmina, born May 29, 1849, become the wife of Asa PENNY, and their children were Irene, Floyd, LeRoy and Minnie (after the death of her first husband she married Henry CLINTON, and they are now living in Amherst Junc); Mary E, born July 31, 1854, was the wife of George MITCHELL of Amherst, and died leaving one son Harry; Frank M, died in infancy; Walter, born June 6, 1857, married Lindy PENNY, and their children are Harry, Elida, Bessie, Myrl, Kitty and Nellie; Arthur, born August 20, 1861, married Millie OLSON, and with their children - Glenn, L Earl and Genevieve- they live with his parents; Frank M, is deceased; Fred, born June 20, 1873, died Feb 4, 1882. Mr WILMOT served as town treasurer in 1853 and 1854, the first time taxes were collected in Amherst Twnp, was constable in 1855, and for a number of years has served on the school board. In politics he is a Republican. In early life he and his wife held membership with the Methodist Church, but are now members of the United Brethern Church. He has lived in harmony with his professions, is honorable and upright, and his many excellencies of character have gained for him the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. Contributor Richard Stephen rstep@qtm.net