My Genealogy Hound

SQUIRE WILLIAM M. WILSON, a prominent resident of Baldwin, and an honored pioneer of Randolph County, was born where the town of Baldwin now stands in 1841, and is the eldest child of James and Jennie (McBride) Wilson, both of whom were natives of this county. The father was born about 1820, and was a son of George and Susanna (Anderson) Wilson, who came to Illinois from the Abbeyville District in South Carolina. The grandmother was a native of Nova Scotia, and they were the earliest settlers of this community. The family lived for some time in the old fort, which was erected for protection against the Indians by the old settlers.

The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the common schools and afterward turned his attention to farming, to which pursuit he had been reared. He was a successful agriculturist and his land was highly improved. The town of Baldwin was established on part of his father’s farm, and Mr. Wilson then embarked in merchandising at that place, carrying on operations along that line for a period of five years.

In 1864, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Been, and to them has been born a family of ten children, five of whom are yet living: Leonard; Jennie, wife of M. J. Delaney; Maggie; Martin and Ella. The family are all faithful and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church and take an active part in its work, and also in charitable and benevolent enterprises. The father and sons are stanch supporters of the Democratic party.

In the year 1873, Mr. Wilson was elected Justice of the Peace, and each succeeding re-election has found him the people’s choice for that office. About 1869, he was elected Town Treasurer, and is still filling that position. He devotes his entire time and attention to his official duties, and his promptness and fidelity have not only caused his long retention in office, but have won him the high commendation of all and have gained him the confidence and good will of those with whom he has been brought in contact. Socially, he is connected with the Odd Fellows’ society. He is a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, and a well spent life has won him universal esteem.

Warren N. Wilson, a brother of our subject, was born on the present site of the town of Baldwin in 1857, and was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity. In fact, he has known no other home. His early education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course in Shurtleff College, of Upper Alton, which he entered in 1871, there pursuing his studies for two years. Later he took up the study of law, and after a thorough preparation for that profession he was admitted to the Bar in Chester, in 1877, and has since successfully engaged in practice in the courts of this county. He is well read in his profession, and is rapidly winning his way to the front rank among leading practitioners of this part of the state. He is a supporter of the principles of the Democracy, and for six years he ably served in the office of Master in Chancery. He is now serving his eighth year as Judge of the County Court, having been elected for two terms of four years each.

Warren N. Wilson was married in December, 1878, the lady of his choice being Miss Helen Crittenden, whose father located in Chester among the early settlers of the county. Both our subject and his wife are faithful members of the Presbyterian Church, and in social circles they rank high, for the Wilson family is numbered among the oldest and best families of the county, and the history of this community would be incomplete without mention of them.