Individual Details
Elijah Wilson
(2 May 1824 - 10 Sep 1917)
Obituary of Eli Wilson
Eli Wilson, a well-known farmer of Highland County, Ohio, was born on his grandfather Santee's farm near New Petersburg, May 18, 1824, son of William and Sally (Santee) Wilson.
William Wilson, the father, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and lived there for thirty-five years. He inherited an interest in the home place, subsequently purchased the interest of the other heirs and in 1859 traded the property for the farm of 212 acres where his son, Eli, now lives. He died there in 1861. Of his large family the records mention the names of eleven children, of who only two at this present date, John and Lucinda (Mrs. Joseph Tracy) are living.
Mr. Wilson's grandfather, Joshua Wilson, came to this state from Maryland at an early day, and in the forests of Fayette County acquired and improved the farm above alluded to. He paid for his farm in a unique way, namely, with wolf scalps, one scalp being sufficient to pay for an acre. His plan for securing them -and this was the plan adopted by other pioneers - was as follows: First, he built a platform a few feet high on which he stood to shoot them. Then he would rum the bottom of his moccasins with asafetida and course for miles into the forests, always leading back. If there were any wolves in the neighborhood, they would soon scent the asafetida and come right to the platform. In this way Grandfather
Wilson killed as many as fifty wolves in a single night. He had served all through the Revolutionary War and was noted as a great Indian fighter. His parents were Scotch. Grandfather Santee was of French origin. He died at the age of seventy on his farm near New
Petersburg. Eli Wilson's first farming was done in Fayette County. In 1868, he bought off the other heirs their shares in the farm,
moving here at once, and has since made his home on this farm. March 15, 1852, he was married to Catherine Tracy. The children of
this union are Milton, Wm. Newton, Sarah C., Alonzo, Sophia, who died in childhood, Samuel J., Elias Curtis, Caroline Matilda, wife of Thomas Hillory, Joseph and Edward, who died in childhood. His wife died February 8, 1872. Mr. Wilson was again married in 1873 to
Miss Caroline Smith. The children of this marriage were Minnie, wife of B. D. McVeigh, Ollie, Hary O. and Nellie, wife of Chas. Head. His wife, eleven children, twenty-two grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren are left to mourn his loss.
Mr. Wilson was widely known and universally respected for his sterling qualities. A man of strong willpower, he was energetic and successful in business and thorough and efficient in all his undertakings. He was a man of strict integrity of character, honest, upright and generous in all his dealings. He delighted in extending hospitality to his acquaintances and friends, and many recall his kind disposition and remember, gratefully, assistance rendered them in time of need.
He retained his facilities to the last and on the day before his death recognized each of the nine children who were permitted to be with him in those last hours. He was inclined to the Quaker faith and expressed himself as ready to go and hoped that when his time
came that he might peacefully lie down and go to sleep. This hope was realized in the peaceful passing away at one o'clock Monday morning, September 10, 1917 at the age of 93 years, 3 months and 22 days.
Source: The Greenfield Republican, Greenfield, Ohio
Eli Wilson, a well-known farmer of Highland County, Ohio, was born on his grandfather Santee's farm near New Petersburg, May 18, 1824, son of William and Sally (Santee) Wilson.
William Wilson, the father, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and lived there for thirty-five years. He inherited an interest in the home place, subsequently purchased the interest of the other heirs and in 1859 traded the property for the farm of 212 acres where his son, Eli, now lives. He died there in 1861. Of his large family the records mention the names of eleven children, of who only two at this present date, John and Lucinda (Mrs. Joseph Tracy) are living.
Mr. Wilson's grandfather, Joshua Wilson, came to this state from Maryland at an early day, and in the forests of Fayette County acquired and improved the farm above alluded to. He paid for his farm in a unique way, namely, with wolf scalps, one scalp being sufficient to pay for an acre. His plan for securing them -and this was the plan adopted by other pioneers - was as follows: First, he built a platform a few feet high on which he stood to shoot them. Then he would rum the bottom of his moccasins with asafetida and course for miles into the forests, always leading back. If there were any wolves in the neighborhood, they would soon scent the asafetida and come right to the platform. In this way Grandfather
Wilson killed as many as fifty wolves in a single night. He had served all through the Revolutionary War and was noted as a great Indian fighter. His parents were Scotch. Grandfather Santee was of French origin. He died at the age of seventy on his farm near New
Petersburg. Eli Wilson's first farming was done in Fayette County. In 1868, he bought off the other heirs their shares in the farm,
moving here at once, and has since made his home on this farm. March 15, 1852, he was married to Catherine Tracy. The children of
this union are Milton, Wm. Newton, Sarah C., Alonzo, Sophia, who died in childhood, Samuel J., Elias Curtis, Caroline Matilda, wife of Thomas Hillory, Joseph and Edward, who died in childhood. His wife died February 8, 1872. Mr. Wilson was again married in 1873 to
Miss Caroline Smith. The children of this marriage were Minnie, wife of B. D. McVeigh, Ollie, Hary O. and Nellie, wife of Chas. Head. His wife, eleven children, twenty-two grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren are left to mourn his loss.
Mr. Wilson was widely known and universally respected for his sterling qualities. A man of strong willpower, he was energetic and successful in business and thorough and efficient in all his undertakings. He was a man of strict integrity of character, honest, upright and generous in all his dealings. He delighted in extending hospitality to his acquaintances and friends, and many recall his kind disposition and remember, gratefully, assistance rendered them in time of need.
He retained his facilities to the last and on the day before his death recognized each of the nine children who were permitted to be with him in those last hours. He was inclined to the Quaker faith and expressed himself as ready to go and hoped that when his time
came that he might peacefully lie down and go to sleep. This hope was realized in the peaceful passing away at one o'clock Monday morning, September 10, 1917 at the age of 93 years, 3 months and 22 days.
Source: The Greenfield Republican, Greenfield, Ohio
Events
| Birth | 2 May 1824 | Highland County, Ohio | |||
| Marriage | 18 Mar 1852 | Fayette County, Ohio - Catherine Tracy | |||
| Marriage | 5 Nov 1873 | Highland County, Ohio - Caroline Matilda Smith | |||
| Death | 10 Sep 1917 | Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio | |||
| Burial | 12 Sep 1917 | Greenfield Cemetery, Highland County, Ohio |  |
Families
| Spouse | Catherine Tracy (1829 - 1872) |
| Child | William Newton Wilson (1854 - 1923) |
| Spouse | Caroline Matilda Smith (1840 - 1931) |
| Child | Minnie Medra Wilson (1874 - 1961) |
| Father | William W. Wilson (1799 - 1861) |
| Mother | Sarah Santee (1803 - 1860) |
Endnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial# 123160185.