In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1837
From The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominen (1883)
WILLIAM WILSON, post-office Maple Grove, one of the oldest settlers and the most extensive farmers of Lincoln township is the subject of this sketch. He was born in County Down, Ireland, Oct. 14, 1837, and is the son of William and Jane Wilson, natives of Ireland, and of Scotch descent. In 1848 our subject came to America, and lived in Maryland three years, working by the month. He came to Jasper county, Mo., in 1854, and his parents moved here at the same time. In 1861 our subject hired out to the government as scout and detective in the quartermaster's department, and served until the close of the war. He. then went to Illinois and contracted to build a railroad, and worked on that two years. In 1868 he returned to Jasper county. Mo. He was married April 5, 1875, to Mary A. Orr, her parents being from Ireland, and came to America in 1832. Mr. Wilson has three children: William E., John S., and George O. Mr. Wilson has a farm of 840 acres, all well improved, and a fine two-story frame residence.
As printed in The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominent (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.