The day of the pioneer in this country is gone, and we are in the midst
of a settled stability and permanency. Nevertheless, as we look about us, we
find a few representatives of the early days, who become at once the center
of interest because they carry in their minds recollections of our hardy
forefathers. In this connection we make reference to one of the sturdy
farmers of this county, George C. Wilson. This gentleman was born in Pike
county, Ohio, on November 9, 1840, being the son of Samuel and Eliza
(Foster) Wilson, the former having been born on April 15, 1804, and the
latter on the 17th of May, 1806. The other children of the family were John,
born August 10, 1828; Richard, born August 18, 1831; Harriet, born February
12, 1833; Rachel, born May 5, 1836; Sarah, born July 18, 1838; George, our
subject; Tilton and Thornton, twins, born May 27, 1843; Margaret, born
September 20, 1846.
In 1842 the family removed to Illinois, where
George was married October 20, 1864, to Mary J. Leckrone, the daughter of
Mathias and Julia (Johnson) Leckrone, the former having been born in Fayette
county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1815, and the latter in Licking county, Ohio,
January 24, 1821. The following list gives the children of the Leckrone
family: William, born November 10, 1838; Mary J., December, 1840; John, May
1, 1843; Harvey, August 29, 1847, born in Illinois; Sarah, January 25, 1852;
George, July 30, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have become the parents of the
following children: Theodore Edgar, a teacher, and who is now an acting
Justice of the Peace, was married to a Miss Appleman; Samuel M., married to
Myrtle Maxfield; Harry E. married Louise See, and is now practicing medicine
at Centralia, Illinois; Frank O. married Carrie Coombs and is now filling
the pulpit of the Methodist church at Bunker Hill; two children, Harvey and
Emma, are deceased.
Mr. Wilson has followed farming all his life and
has been not only successful but progressive as well. He has taken good care
of himself in every way, never having used tobacco or liquors in any form.
Looking back over the vista of his years he often speaks of the little log
cabin of his early days and the pioneer experiences of the times. A precious
as well as interesting family relic in this home is a chair made in 1846 by
his father, who was a tanner. The bottom is made of calf-skin, sewed with
whang, and the leather is as good as new today. Mrs. Wilson takes pleasure
also in bringing out a china plate given to her by her mother upon her
marriage to Mr. Wilson. Those were the days of the loom and the spinning
wheel, and the old wheel now set aside as a family treasure was kept busy
for many a year by the skillful hands of Mrs. Wilson herself. She spun all
the clothing for the men, and has today a quilt of three colors, red, white
and blue, spun by her own hands. There was no need in those days for schools
of manual training, as each household was a school in itself, and one not
excelled by the later day institutions. No roads nor bridges were in
existence at that time, and experiences with all kinds of wild game were
quite common. Wild forests and untilled land occupied the places where the
neighboring towns now stand, and Mr. Wilson speaks of the time when he had
to go to Salem to vote. Doctor Wilson, brother of our subject, at one time
hauled his oats to St. Louis and sold them for fifteen cents per bushel.
Mr. Wilson adheres to the tenets of the Republican party, and together
with his wife, affiliates with the Methodist church.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 450-451.