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- Adams and Wells Counties Pages 951/952
John B. Wilson. One of the oldest and best known families of Jefferson Township in Wells County are the Wilsons, whose homes and worthy activities have been centered here for more than sixty-five years. It is as representative of the third generation of the family that John B. Wilson appears in this record. He is one of the staunch and enterprising farmers of Jefferson Township.
The family was established here in 1851 by Gibson Wilson, great-grandfather of John B. Wilson. Gibson Wilson was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and a son of James and Alice Wilson. After going to Ohio he married Nancy A. Harris, and in 1851 they came to Jefferson Township of Wells County and bought 240 acroes in section 16. This was a heavily timbered tract, and their first home was a log cabin. The nearest town and the nearest neighbors were at Ossian. Gibson Wilson served as one of the first road supervisors of Jefferson Township and helped lay out the first roads from Ossian. He ans his wife were members of the first Presbyterian Church built in the township, and they reared their children in that faith. Gibson Wilson died in 1862, survived for many years by his widow. Their children were Elizabeth, Cyrus, James, Nancy, John L., margaret and Emma.
Cyrus Wilson, grandfather of John B. Wilson, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and died January 11, 1901. He grew up in Wells County and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company K of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry. He served three years as corporal and was color guard in the battles of Chickamaug, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Atlanta and in the march to the sea. He also carried the colors of his regiment in the military parade at Washington at the close of the war. For ten years after coming out of the army he was engaged in farming in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Mr. John B. Wilson was born at Youngstown, Ohio, August 19, 1888, a son of John A. and Bethilda (Bushee) Wilson. His father was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, and his mother of Union Township, Wells County. Jacob Bushee, father of Bethilda, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 22, 1888, and came to Union Township of Wells County in 1850. Twelve years later he bought land in Jefferson Township, and lived in this county for many years, being prominent as a farmer and also quite active in local politics. Mr. John A. and Bethilda Wilson are well known citizens of Wells County and are noe residents of Zanesville in this county. They had two children, John B. and Cecil M. The latter married Jasper J. Davis on September 2, 1911, and they live in Fort Wayn, Indiana.
John B. Wilson was reared and educated in this county and for a number of years has carried on a successful business as a farmer on fifty-five acres of land in Jefferson Township. He has done much to improve this farm and for a man of his years is substantially situated and has bright prospects for the future. In politics he is a democrat.
Mr. Wilson married December 4, 1906, Ethel C. Woods, daughter of Francis and Edith (Wilcoxson) Woods, of Sheldon, Allen County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have three children: Genevieve and Gladys, twins, born March 24, 1908, and John F., born November 12, 1909. mrs. Wilson's brothers and sisters are: Jesse A., who married Celia Denney of Frankfort, Indiana; Otto M., who married Helen Barker, of Fort Wayne; Vernie E., wife of Homer Cranter, of Sheldon, Indiana; Edna G., wife of John Archibald, of Ossian, Indiana; and Anna Ronald, Alton, Helen, Glenna and Arthur, all of whom are still unmarried.
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Bassett Family Association Database
