A PIONEER GONE

Thomas R. Wilson of Vacoma, who died last Sunday and was buried Monday, was a son of Michael and Harriet (Cresap) Wilson, and was born in Preston County, Virginia May 2, 1827. His father was a farmer, and the entire life of the son has ben devoted to agriculture.

Mr. Wilson came to Nebraska in 1855, settling near the old town of DeSoto where he remained eighteen years. He then went to Blair where he stayed two years, after which he removed to his present location near Vacoma. He is of Irish-German descent and combines in his character the best qualities of these two sterling races.

When he came to Nebraska he secured employment on the Omaha reservation, breaking prairie for the Indians. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Second Nebraska Cavalry and served eleven months. Mr. Wilson was a democrat and active in the service of his party, but never held nor sought public office except that of county surveyor which he held for several years. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

April 2, 1866 he was married to Miss Mary A. Tucker of Burt county, and a native of Wisconsin, and eight children have been born to them: Harriet P., Michael V., Mina R., Louisa, Samuel I., James R., Edward W. and Thomas C.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #98765666