Note to the public! This material
ended up in my possession, possible from a copy at the Kingsley
Library. I do not have any idea who the descendants are. I know Mr.
R. Wilson is deceased. If anyone has objections to this being on the Grand
Traverse MIGenWeb site please advise your familial connection and we will follow
the appropriate steps. Thank you, Brenda K.Wolfgram Moore,Co-Ordinator.
My Biograpy by Dr. Russell H. Wilson, Superintendent Emeritus
I was born in Kingsley, Michigan, 12 November 1897, and have spent most of my life in Northern Michigan,
where my
grandparents on both sides of the family were pioneers. They
acquired homesteads during the Civil War period, cleared the
land, and built log cabins for their homes. My grandfather,
William L. Wilson was born in Jefferson County, New Your, 12 September 1846, and
was one of eight children born to Benjamin Wilson and Mahala Wardsworth, both
of whom were natives of New York State. Benjamin was a fourth generation
descendant of Alexander Wilson, who came from Londonderry, Ireland to
Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1719. He was a native of Northern
Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, like all of his neighbors. He settled on one
of the "exempted farms", and on account of his heroic service at
the siege of Londonderry, Ireland in 1688-89, was exempted from taxation as long
as the colony remained under British rule. He died there 4 May 1752
aged ninety-three years. Benjamin, a farmer, moved with his
family to a farm in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. William was probably a
babe at the time. At the age of 15 he enlisted (there is little doubt
that he must have represented himself as older) in Company H. Fourteenth
Infantry, Civil War, and served until peace was declared, when he returned to
Sheboygan. Ben married Clarissa Chapel 27 January 1866.
In June, 1967, Ben went to Michigan where he entered a homestead in Section 12,
Paradise Township, Grand Traverse County, about five miles East of what is
now Kingsley. He built a log cabin and that fall brought his family to the
new home. Part of the original log cabin has been preserved. [Unknown if
this is current in 2004]. Clarissa died 9 July 1871,
leaving three children:
Albertis A., Benjamin L.,, and Ella M. Wilson. Ella M. married David
Johnson. On 16 September 1872, William
Alpena Public Schools, Bound by Metal Binders
10 October 1972
Frank W. (Russell's father), William L. Jr., Reuben A., Jessie L., who died at 15 years of age, and Addie P.
William Sr. was a prosperous farmer. Referring to William, E. L. Sprague in his history of "Grand Traverse and Leelanaw
Counties, published in 1903, stated, "Mr. Wilson has always been a leading spirit.
the end