My Genealogy Hound

Frank C. Wilson, the popular druggist of Buffalo, Mo., was born December 25, 1847, in Camden County, Mo., his parents being James and Sarah (Britton) Wilson, and his grandfather James Wilson. The latter immigrated to Camden County, Mo., at a very early day, before the Osage Indians had left the country, the State then being a Territory. His nearest neighbor lived at a distance of twenty-seven miles, and his nearest market was St. Louis, whither he would repair when in need of supplies, driving a yoke of oxen. His first residence was a little log cabin, with clapboard doors and roof, and was located about ten miles from the Osage River, on the Auglaize stream. He was a noted hunter, and his cabin was always supplied with choice wild meats, which animals fell a victim to his skill as a marksman. He was an extensive farmer and stock dealer, and made a specialty of raising fine horses, being a great admirer and an excellent judge of these animals. About 1858 he took up his residence in Caldwell County, Mo., and died near Breckenridge. His eldest son, Sampson, was sheriff of a territory now comprising (but then called Kinderhook County) several counties, of which Jefferson City was the county seat. James Wilson, the father of Frank C. Wilson, was born in Camden County, Mo., and was a farmer and trader by occupation, and was captain of Company I, Osage Regiment of Missouri Home Guards. Hon. J. W. McClurg was colonel. He and Capt. McVey carried the first message for Gen. Sigel from Lebanon to Rolla. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Wilson was commissioned recruiting officer for the Union army at Springfield by Gen. Lyon. He died at Jefferson City, October 13, 1861. His wife was born in South Carolina, and died at Cassville, Mo., having become the mother of eight children, six of whom are living: William L., Frank C., Mary J., Martha M., Allen H. and Charles M. Frank C. Wilson is the eldest of the family now living, and was reared and educated in Camden County. At the age of eighteen years he engaged in teaching school, but shortly after embarked in mercantile life, and continued in the business until 1873, when he established the Lebanon Journal, which he continued to publish until 1880,, and then came to Buffalo and engaged in milling, stock trading and the mercantile business. He has now a complete stock of drugs and all the fixtures usually carried by a druggist. He is one of the prominent business men of the town, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W., and has served as postmaster of Buffalo for three years. In 1872 he was married to Jennie H. Booth, by whom he has two children, Minnie A. and Annie B. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and their eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church.