My Genealogy Hound

William F. Wilson (deceased), who was one of the successful farmers of Prairie Township, was born in Kentucky September 6, 1815, and when quite a small boy came with his parents to this county. They were among the first settlers, and growing up, as Mr. Wilson did, on the frontier, it was not wonderful that his education was rather limited. He followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and when quite a bachelor he married Mrs. Matilda Phelan, nee Barren, May 15, 1827. She was the daughter of James and Jemima (Murray) Barren, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. Her parents remained in Tennessee until 1851, when they moved to this county, and here spent the remainder of their days on the farm. Both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In their family there were eleven children, five sons and six daughters, Mrs. Wilson being the fifth child. The father lived to be about seventy years of age, and the mother lived to be about fifty. After coming with her parents to Washington County, Mrs. Wilson married William Phelan, a native of Washington County, Ark., and by him became the mother of five children: James, John, William, Lafayette and Joseph. William is the only one now living. After the death of Mr. Phelan she married Mr. Wilson, and to this union were born three children: Andrew (deceased), George F. and Elizabeth. Mr. Phelan was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but Mr. Wilson was a member of the Christian Church, to which Mrs. Wilson also belonged. Mr. Wilson died in 1882, leaving his widow and children in possession of a large tract of land. He was a self-made man, and was a plain, honest, upright, farmer, and one highly respected. His son, George F., assists his mother in running the farm.