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Giles County, Tennessee
Wilson Biographies
SAMUEL A. WILSON, a leading citizen of Giles County, was born in 1823, and is living on the farm of his birth. He was united in marriage in 1857 to Mary Herron, who was born in Mississippi in 1837, and the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wynne) Herron, natives of Tennessee, born, respectively, in 1808 and in 1816, and died in 1844 and in 1879. To our subject and wife were born three children: Sallie W., Herron C. and Georgie W. Mr. Wilson remained on the farm with his father until 1843, when he went to Yazoo City, and engaged in merchandising in partnership with his brother for about five years. He then moved to Memphis [Shelby County], Tenn., and embarked in the dry goods business, which occupation he followed for four years. He then, in partnership with Norman & Carter, opened a cotton commission house, which also proved successful until the breaking out of the Rebellion. Mr. Wilson then went to Mississippi and opened a tannery, and was engaged in this business until the close of the war, after which he re-opened the cotton commission house, the firm being then known as Wilson, Carter & Co. In 1867 Mr. Wilson sold out and returned to Tennessee, locating on the farm of his birth, which consists of 400 acres of land in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife is also a member of the same church. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Weir) Wilson, were natives of Virginia, born, respectively, in 1783 and 1782. The father was a farmer by occupation, and participated in the war of l8l2, and was also with Jackson in the Creek and Seminole Indian wars. He died in 1857, and his wife followed him the same year. (Goodspeed's History of Giles County, 1886)
James and Elizabeth WEIR Wilson married 11 Nov 1802 in Blount County, Tennessee (county marriage records), and John WEIR had married Jenny [Jane] WEIR in Blount County on 3 Jun 1797 (ibid.) Also note that Hugh and Susy SHILS Wilson had married there on 10 Feb 1801.
See 18 Nov 1841 letter from James and Elizabeth [WEIR] Wilson, postmarked Pulaski, to John WEIR of "Collumbus, E. Tennessee," which states that "Samuel our youngest is away at school at this time." Of their six children, only three are named: Samuel and his brothers George (lives nearby) and Talbert ("South Missippi. He is at Machester"). James Wilson is on the 1820 Giles county census, p. 13. The 1830 census not yet checked, but in 1836, he and George W. WILSON are on the tax list of District 6 (no acreage, one white poll each), and in 1840, James is on the Giles County census, p. 157, the eldest male and female in the household both 60-69 years of age, with a male and a female ages 15-20, and a male and a female ages 20-30. In 1850, James WILSON, Farmer, age 70, and Elizabeth, age 72, both born in Virginia, are in District 5, HH126, with William P. WILSON, Farmer, age 28, and Mary WILSON, age 21, both born in Tennessee. In HH125 is George WILSON, Farmer, age 47, Darcus P., 44, William J.L., 20, Francis A., 18, Sarah C.15, Tolbert E., 12 and Calidona C. WILSON, 6, and Quintilla A. COX, 6, all born in Tennessee. Samuel is not found on this census.
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