BIOGRAPHY - ROBERT WILSON
When
death claimed Robert C. Wilson, Ford county lost one of its representative
farmers and a citizen whom to know was to respect and honor. He is yet well
remembered by those among whom he lived, although twenty-three years have
come and gone since he passed from this life. He was born in Greenbrier
county, Virginia, April 4, 1824, and passed away on the old homestead farm
on section 8, Brenton township, Ford county, in April, 1885. He was a son of
John and Susan Wilson and had two sisters and three brothers. His hoyhood
and youth were spent in the south and his educational privileges were those
afforded by the public schools. He was about twenty-one or twenty-two years
of age when he came to Illinois, settling first in Knox: county. He arrived
in Ford county about seven years prior to his marriage, which was celebrated
in 1867, and his remaining days were here passed upon his farm, comprising
the southwest quarter of section 8, Brenton township. He broke a part of
this land and all of the buildings upon the place were put here by Mr.
Wilson and his family. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural
pursuits and in addition to the homestead property he owned two other farms
of eighty acres each, which he sold. Both were situated in Brenton township.
In 1867 Mr. Wilson chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Julia Dunn, who was born in Warren county, Illinois, in 1842 and came to Ford county in 1865 when a young lady of twenty-three years. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Paddox) Dunn, natives of New Jersey and Kentucky respectively. They came here in the spring of 1865 and further mention of them is made upon another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Richard Dunn. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born five children: William Joseph, who is living in Brenton township; Robert Lee, who remains at home and operates the old farm; Lillian May, the wife of Robert Codlin, of Fairbury, Illinois; James Albert, of Brenton township; and Harvey Elmer, of Chicago, Illinois.
Mr. Wilson exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy but was not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and to the Presbyterian church — associations which indicated much of his character as a man and citizen, showing forth the principles which governed his conduct in his relations with his fellowmen. He was thoroughly trustworthy, being never known to take advantage of the necessities of others in a business transaction. On the contrary he was just in his dealings, and his honesty and geniality made him popular with those who knew him.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 638-641
