My Genealogy Hound

James M. Wilson, stockman and farmer, of Barton County, Mo., was born in Morgan County, Ind., in 1844, and is a son of Alexander and Mary (Maxwell) Wilson, who were born, reared and married in Kentucky, and about 1830 removed to Indiana, where Mr. Wilson was killed in 1862, while running a saw-mill. His widow died in Kansas in 1874, both having been earnest members of the Christian Church. Mr. Wilson was a farmer by occupation, and served as constable sixteen years, and as assessor quite a number of years. His father, John, was of Irish birth, was one of the early settlers of Kentucky, and died in Indiana. James M. Wilson is the seventh of nine children, and received his education in the old log school-houses of Indiana. On the 4th of July, 1863, he joined Company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was on duty in East Tennessee for about six months. After about eight months’ service he returned home, but soon after joined Company B, First Heavy Artillery, and operated in Louisiana and Alabama. In July, 1865, he returned home, and the following year was married to Miss Sarah, a daughter of Andrew and Susanna Baker, who were natives of the “Old North State.” When Mrs. Wilson was about four years old, her parents removed to Indiana, where her mother died. Mr. Baker died in Jackson County, Mo., in October, 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson four sons and one daughter have been born. In 1867 they removed to Crawford County, Kan., and in 1879 to Barton County, Mo., their present finely cultivated farm of 200 acres being then raw prairie land. He is a Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for U. S. Grant in 1868. While in Kansas he served eight years as constable. He and his wife are members of the Church of God.