Ben D. Wilson

As printed in 1881

BEN D. WILSON. County Clerk, Canton; was born in 1837, in Osnaburg Tp., Stark Co., and is the son of Robert and Charity (Elson)

I Wils(>n. Her father was John Elson, a Captain in the war of 181 2, from Western Virginia. He,

with his wife subsequently came to Stark County, and both now lie buried in Osnaburg Town-

' ship, as does also the grandparents of our subject, who became residents of Osnaburg Township as early- as 1811. The country was so new at that date, they were obliged to clear and cut a road through the timber to the property upon which they first settled. The early life of Ben D. was spent on the farm of his father (now a resident of Mapleton), though later he had the advantages of the public schools, and subsequently finished his education at the Mt. Union College. Returning from college he spent one year in a store in Osnaburg. In 18(!1. lie accepted the position of teacher in the schools of Canton, in which he continued until August of 18G2, when he enlisted in the 115th 0. V. I. He was with the 115th for about one and one half 3 cars, when he was coinraissioned in the 5th r. S. ('. T. In October, 1864, after the Petersburg campaign, he resigned on account of ill health. Returning to Stark County, he remained somewhat inactive until.January, ISUfJ, when he received an appointment in the Department of the Interior, and for the following six j'ears made his home in Washington, D. C. Again ill health obliged him to resign, when he returned to hi.s native county and engaged in teaching. In 1875. he was appointed School Examiner of Stark County. In 1880, he became the Republican nominee for the office of Clerk of Stark County, to which office he was elected by a majority of 183 votes, and in Fehruary, 1881, he assumed the discharge of the duties of the office. In 1873, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Victoria M. Cole, who is a native of.Michigan.

As printed in History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.