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ROBERT M. WILSON ROBERT M. WILSON, president of the Concord Township School Board and the owner of a farm of forty-five acres of well improved land, which lies three miles southwest of Troy, on the Swailes Turnpike Road, is one of the representative citizens of this section and a member of one of the old and leading families. He was born in the old log house on the homestead in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, March 6, 1849, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Debra) Wilson. John Wilson was born in Maryland and in boyhood accompanied his father, Robert Wilson, to Miami County. Grandfather Wilson settled in the woods in Concord Township, not far from the farm of Robert M. Wilson, and there built a log cabin which later gave way to a handsome brick house. Robert Wilson subsequently moved to a farm in Shelby County, on which he lived until his active years were over, when he retired to Sidney and died there when aged eighty- five years. John Wilson, father of Robert M., was one of the older members of a large family. He assisted his father to clear the farm and later cleared one for himself in this township and resided on it until the close of his life, following farming and trucking, and for a number of years he had customers in Troy who depended upon him for their earliest and best vegetables. His death occurred May 26, 1907, when he was aged eighty-seven years. He married Elizabeth Debra, who was born in Union Township, Miami County, and survived her husband for only three weeks. They had the following children: Robert M., Henry, Ella, William, Charles, Mary, Rijah, Arthur and Walter, twins; and John. Of these Arthur and John are deceased. Robert M. Wilson had but meager educational opportunities during his boyhood, but for a season, while living with his grandfather, he went to school in one of the old log structures where slabs served as benches and greased paper took the place of glass in the window apertures. His father needed his help on the farm, as he was the eldest son, and he worked for him until he was twenty-four years old. In 1874 he purchased the farm from his father and later put up all the present excellent buildings. He carries on general farming to some degree but makes trucking a specialty and for several years ran a wagon to Troy. Formerly he had a nursery of fruit trees and conducted the business as a representative of the Farmer's Nursery Company. On September 17, 1875, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Allie B. Brown, who was born and reared in Concord Township and is a daughter of George Brown. They have three children, namely: Clarence W., Viona May, and Anna. Clarence W., who lives at Tippecanoe City, was married (first) to Mary Weikert, who at death left one son, Forest H., who lives with Mr. Wilson. He married second, Ethel Dye and they have two children; Ralph M. and Mabel F. Viona May, who married Howard Robins of Montgomery County, Ohio, has two daughters, Martha and Mary Anna is the wife of William Hartman, of Concord Township. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican. For a number of years he has been a member of the School Board and is serving in his second term as president of this important body. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows aid the Elks, both lodges being at Troy. Return to the Biography Index Copyright © 1998 by Computerized Heritage
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