Samuel Wilson

KQ-ARMER and _ stock-raiser, Posies on): Sections: “15 andiore.

Ko- York township, Darke county, O., Versailles, P. O., and was born February 21, 1829. Samuel Wilson, Sen., his father, lived in Greenville township, Darke county, and Heed Mary Frances —

Stoner whose father was killed by the Indians; also the Wilson sisters, aunts to the subject of this sketch, were killed near Greenville. Samuel Wilson, Sen., was drowned in Greenville creek, and his wife died soon after. Mr. Wilson lived with his parents until their death, after which he was compelled to live among strangers _ until the age of eighteen, when he apprenticed himself to Orrin Culbertson as a carpenter. He remained with him until the age of twenty-one when he became a contractor for himself. In the year 1853 he married Mary C. Eyler. Jacob Eyler, her father, was a native of Maryland, who married Ann Rebecca

Staup. Mr. Wilson owns four hundred and thirty-two acres of land in Sections 15 and 16, and has two good brick’ residences and two good barns. They have eight children, viz: Cynthian rie William J., Minerva J., Iola Belle, Ida May, Mary F., Edith G., and Minnie Blanche. The subject of this sketch served as Treas-_ urer in York township, Darke county, for four years; Trustee one. year in 1879; was elected County Commissioner for Darke county and served six years. The family of Mr. Wilson is one of the.

foremost of Darke county, and none is more highly esteemed.

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As printed in A pictorial outline history of Darke County, Ohio with portraits and biography of prominent citizens of the county (1890). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Mrs. Samuel Wilson has been a witness of almost the entire growth and development of Darke county. She was born in Ohio, August, 21, 1836. and is the second of a family of three daughters, whose parents were Jacob and Ann Rebecca (Staup) Eyler. Her father was born in Frederick county, Maryland, August 30, 18 14, and died September 26, 1886. He was reared upon the farm and acquired a good education in the schools near his home, but at an early age he was left to care for his widowed mother, and his educational advantages were meager. He came with his family to Ohio in 1836. locating in Montgomery county, where he resided for seven years. He afterward spent three years in Greene county and in 1846 came to Darke county, locating in Van Buren township, and in this county he remained until his death. His political support was given to the Democracy, and in religious belief he was a Lutheran. His wife. who belonged to the same church, was born in Maryland, April 27, 181 2. and died on the 20th of November, 1897. She was an affectionate wife and mother and her teachings have had marked influence over her children, for she was an earnest Christian woman and reared her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Mrs. Wilson, of this review, was a little maiden of ten summers when her parents became residents of Darke county. She remained in Van Buren township until her seventeenth year and pursued her education in the common schools. She was then married, on the 20th of September, 1853, to Samuel Wilson. They had little capital with which to start out in life, but they possessed resolute spirits and determined purpose; and the labors of the wife supplemented the work of the husband, who devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil. The first piece of land which they owned was eighty acres in Van Buren township. Subsequently they sold it and purchased sixty-five acres in Wayne township. Their first home was a little log cabin and for six years they resided in Wayne township, Mr. Wilson being actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also possessed considerable natural mechanical ability and was a practical carpenter and bridge-builder. Perhaps no better account of his life can be given than to copy the obituary which was published in the Versailles Policy, in June, 1897. five days after his death. It says:

"Samuel Wilson was the son of Samuel and Mary Frances Wilson, and was born in Greenville township, February 21, 1829. His grandfather and two aunts were killed by the Indians near Greenville. The two aunts. Patsy and Anna Wilson, were murdered in July, 1812. They had left the stockade to gather berries in the afternoon when they were attacked by the Indians and killed by blows on the head with tomahawks.

"The parents of the deceased died when lie was young, his father being drowned in Greenville creek and his mother died soon after the sad death of the father. After the death of his parents he was compelled to live among strangers until eighteen years of age when he apprenticed himself to Orrin Culbertson as a carpenter. He remained with him until he was twenty-one, when he became a contractor for himself. He proved himself to be a good business man. By frugality he had become a well-to-do and prosperous farmer.

"In the year 1853 he was joined in holy wedlock with Mary C. Eyler, with whom he lived happily until death separated them. To them eleven children were born, eight of whom are now living, seven girls and one son. He was always kind and true to his wife and children. During his life the deceased proved himself a public-spirited man, serving as the treasurer of Yorktown township for four years, a trustee for one and commissioner of Darke county for six years. Thus his life of usefulness in the home, in the community and the county is ended and he has gone the way of all the earth. In the last solemn obsequies we could but manifest our tender regard for him and tenderly lay the lifeless form to sleep in mother earth, committing his spirit into the hands of the Great Giver of life. May his rest be sweet ! To his companion is due an expression of our deepest sorrow, for she, most of all, feels this sad separation. She will be most lonely. May the infinite Father comfort and abundantly bless her ! May the children profit by the counsels of their father and emulate his virtues! Remember there is one above who has promised to be a friend to the orphan and the widow. May heaven smile upon you and bless you. To the dozen grandchildren we say, mourn not that a loved one is taken away. These experiences you will meet often along life's pathway.

" We shall miss thee a thousand times along life's weary track; Not a sorrow or a joy but we shall long to call thee back, — Yearn for thy true and tender heart, long thy bright smile to see, For many dear and true are left, but none quite like thee. Not upon us or ours the solemn angel has wrought; The funeral anthem is a glad evangel:

the good die not; God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly what he has given: They live in thought and deed as truly as in heaven."

Such is the account of the life and character of Samuel Wilson by one who knew him long and well.

He was for many years identified with agricultural pursuits in Darke county. After residing on two different farms in Wayne township, he sold his property there and purchased eighty acres of land in Richland township. Two years later he disposed of that tract and bought one hundred and thirty acres in Wayne township, but lived there for only two years, after which he sold cut and bought a quarter-section of land in York township. This was partially covered by timber and brush and the improvements on the place were a little log cabin and log stable. In his business affairs, however, Mr. Wilson prospered and year by year added to his possessions. At one time he was the owner of six hundred acres in Darke county and in Indiana. In 1876 he erected on his home farm in this county a beautiful brick residence and the following year built a large and commodious barn. He also made other substantial improvements which added to the value and attractive appearance of this place. About 1890 he erected on section 15 a tasteful and pleasant house in which their daughter, Mrs. Gilbert, now resides. Mr. Wilson was a very successful farmer and stock-raiser, and his careful management of his business interests brought to. him a w ell deserved success. He was known far and wide as a benevolent gentleman, always just and fair in his dealings. To his family he not only left a handsome estate but also that priceless heritage which is rather to be chosen than great riches.

In politics he was a Democrat and filled the office of township treasurer for four years. He was also a township trustee for two years and county commissioner for six years. In all these positions he discharged his duty with marked promptness and fidelity and won the high commendation of all concerned. The poor and needy ever found in Mr. and Mrs. Wilson warm friends who were willing to aid them, and to many public movements and measures which have contributed to the general good they were liberal supporters.

This worthy couple became the parents of eleven children, two sons and nine daughters, of whom eight are yet living, as follows: Cynthia H., who resides with her mother on the old homestead; William J., who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Minerva J., the wife of Samuel Sherry, a merchant of Versailles, by whom she had a son and daughter; Iola Belle, the wife of Charles Ewry, who was formerly a teacher but is now engaged in the hardware business in Portland, Indiana, as a member of the firm of Yount & Ewry; Ida May, the wife of Harry A. Gilbert, formerly a teacher but now a prosperous farmer of York township, by whom she has one son and two daughters; Mary Frances, the wife of William D. Yount, who is a partner of Mr. Ewry in the hardware business, and by whom she has two sons; Edith G., wife of S. A. Overliolzer, who was formerly a successful teacher and is now a prominent farmer in Richland township, by whom she has one son; and Minnie, the wife of William C. Hile, an agriculturist of Wayne township. They too have one son. The children were all provided with good educational privileges to fit them for life's practical and responsible duties, and their life records are a credit to the family name.

Mrs. Wilson is now residing in her beautiful home, surrounded by her children and a host of warm friends, among whom she has long resided. Her beautiful Christian character and her upright life have gained to her the love and esteem of many. In the Versailles cemetery stands a beautiful Scotch granite monument sacred to the memory of her husband, who so long traveled life's journey, sharing with his family its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. She bravely met the hardships and trials of pioneer life in the early days and now well deserves the enjoyment which comes to her through the comforts with which she is surrounded.

As printed in A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.