Copy of Photo of George F.H. Wilson

Obituary: George F.H. Wilson

OBITUARY: Mrs. Lydia B. Wilson

George F.H. Wilson comments from documents in Henry Co. Illinois

Cambridge, Henry Co, IL, Information

 

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Obituary

Report of Death of George F.H. Wilson in The Chronicle, Cambridge, Henry Co., Illinois, Thursday, August 14, 1884:

No man in Henry County, probably, has been more generally known to its citizens during the past twenty years than G.F.H. Wilson, whose death occurred at his residence, early Monday morning. He was born at Litchfield, Conn., Feb., 18, 1816. His parents removed to New York when he was but two years of age, and remained there sixteen years. Mr. Wilson came to Illinois in 1834, locating in Peoria County, where he resided for sixteen years. In 1837 he married Miss Lydia Adkins, and they removed to Henry County in 1850, thirty-four years ago. Mr. Wilson has been a resident of Illinois about one month over fifty years. When Mr. and Mrs. Wilson arrived in Cambridge, there were but seven dwellings in the village; the little frame house in which he has lived all the years, and in which he has reared his family, being then partially built, but he moved into it, and it was completed by himself, as it yet remains, some time later. Thomas and Charles Davenport are the only present resident (sic) of the village that were here when Mr. Wilson and family arrived it (sic) Cambridge.

For several years past Mr. Wilson has held the office of constable, he also held the position of deputy sheriff under Sheriff Potter and H.G. Little. During the latter years of his life he has been neutral as regards politics, but during the life of that party was a strong whig and later was an earnest abolitionist, being interested and connected with the "underground railway."

Being a man of close observation and retentive memory, Mr. Wilson was equal to an encyclopedian in matters pertaining to our village and county. For many years he has kept a dairy (sic) of the weather, noting the exact temperature of each day.

He has been confined to his bed for several months, his life being despaired of about two months ago. Since that time, however, he has been able to sit up and on pleasant days to sit in the yard. Dropsy was the disease from which he died.

He was buried Tuesday evening, the Odd Fellow's, of which society he was a member, taking charge of the ceremonies. Rev. A.K. Tullis, of Geneseo, conducted the funeral exercises, being accompanied to Cambridge by fifteen or twenty of the Odd Fellows of Geneseo. He was buried in the Eaton cemetery, in Munson township.

His wife and five children survive him, three children have preceded him to the land of rest. Of the five children yet living, Julia, wife of David Kimberling, and Edwin, reside in Cambridge. Mrs. F.M. Austin, resides in Prairie City, Ia., Mrs. Charles Remsberg, at Glidden, Carroll County, Iowa, and Norman Wilson, at Coon Rapids, Iowa.

Among the relatives of Mr. Wilson, present at the funeral, were his eldest and youngest brothers, E.P. Wilson, of Des Moines, Iowa, and David Wilson, of Farmington, Ill.; also Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Phelps, of Plymouth, Ill., the latter a sister to Mrs. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Wickwire, and Mrs. T.O. Jones of Chicago.

Several beautiful boquets (sic), floral croses (sic) and other floral tokens of friendship and sympathy, were presented to the stricken family, and displayed during the exercises. One beautiful wreath of pansies was presented by little Inez Petit, accompanied by the request that it be placed in the coffin. Her request was complied with.

Mrs. Wilson and family desire to express their heartfelt thanks to the many who so kindly assissted (sic) and sympathized with them during the sickness and death of the husband and father.

The funeral services of Mrs. Lydia B. Wilson were held at the home of the family, Saturday, April 16, at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. Wm. Wallace officiating. Mrs. Wilson was born in Plymouth, Litchfield Co., Conn., June 30th, 1820, and in 1854 (sic, actually, 1834) she came with her parents to Peoria Co (sic, also an error, should be near Plymouth, Ill.). Later she married Mr. George F.H. Wilson, and removed with him to Cambridge in 1850. Old settlers remember him as prominent in political affairs of the county in early days, for a time filling the office of Sheriff (sic, should be deputy sheriff). Mrs. Wilson has been a widow since 1884. Being a professing christian from her childhood, she has ever adorned her profession by a humble patient christian walk. There were present at the funeral her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Phelps of Plymouth, Ill.; her daughter, Mrs. L.H. Remsburg, of Lake City, Iowa; her son Edwin G. Wilson; and daughter, Mrs. Julia Kemerling, of Cambridge; he (sic) son Norman D. Wilson of Coon Rapids, Iowa; and daughter: Mrs. Emma J. Austin being unable to be present. Mrs. Wilson is one of the last representatives of the pioneer generation which is fast passing away, and future generations will rise to do them honor of which we have been too sparing - for our debt to them for the blessings of a christian country, can not be over estimated. The good that they have done will live after them. "Yea saith the spirit, they shall rest from their labors, but their works shall follow."

From a history of Henry Co., also, quoted in the Adkins book:

Wilson, G.F.H. Retired; Cambridge; born Litchfield, Conn., Feb 18, 1816; Ind. Lib; value of property $2000; removed to New York State when two years old, lived there sixteen years; came to State of Illinois 1834, to Peoria County, the place where the city of Peoria stands was called Fort Clark; lived there sixteen years, came to this county in 1850; has lived here twenty-six years; has lived in state forty-three years in June; city of Chicago was only known as Fort Dearborn at that time; has held office of Constable and Deputy Sheriff fourteen years; married Lydia Adkins in Oct. 1837; she was from Plymouth Hollow, Conn., born in 1820; have five children, three daughters and two sons.

Records also show he was appointed Postmaster on 24 August 1853 and served until David W. Smith was appointed on 7 January 1954.

Henry County Recorder records show George F.H.Wilson purchased "Lot number fifteen (15) in the recorded plat of the town of Cambridge in the said County (Henry)..." on the 4th day of September, 1849, from the County Commissioner, who were in charge of the original sale of lots in the plot of the town of Cambridge (more later on this).

George F.H. Wilson was noted at attending the first meeting to organize an old settler's (of Henry County) association on July 10, 1875, the meeting held in the Town Hall in Cleveland.

George was the second son of Eli and Julia (Candee) Wilson, natives of Harwinton, Litchfield county, Conn. In 1818, Eli and Julia and family immigrated to Camden, Oneida county, N.Y. In the spring of 1834 the family immigrated to Peoria county, Illinois, and located on Sec. 8, where he remained until his death, which occurred Sept. 7, 1875, at the age of eighty-four. The family came by the lakes and rivers to Peoria, arriving June 3, 1834. [This information from the Trivoli Directory regarding the eldest son, E.P., in 1878??. More details are provided.]

School Info:

"The early settlers were all anxious for education for their children and the first school in Cambridge Township was a private one. The first public classes were held in the court house which had been moved from Morristown. Miss Sarah Frances Little was the teacher in 1845-1846.

In 1850 a frame school building was constructed, 18 by 24 feet. It had 25 seats along sides and one end of room.

In 1856 "Old Brick" was built and there were 2 departments - first floor and upstairs. E.C. Raymond was principal and the Misses Fanny Gould and Lucy Brooks, teachers.

A two-story frame building was erected in 1868 with 2 main rooms each 36 feet square. Three wings were added later.

C. I. Gruey took charge of schools in 1872 when the first high school was started. Miss Eva Hinman was the first graduate in 1875."

Town of Cambridge Info:

"The land on which the town of Cambridge now stands was, prior to the year 1843, the property of Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury, so well known in the early history of the New York and New England Colonies finding homes in Henry County. As soon as the site received legislative sanction - the act having passed that body February 21, 1843, - he deede to the Board of County Commissioners, at a special meeting held on April 19, 1943, the fractional parts of two forty-acre lots. These were at one accepted, and steps taken to lay out a town. A contract had been made between the county and Geo. Brandenburg and _____Corey for constructing a jail and court-house at Morristown. A small frame court-house was already built, but at this time was still unfinished, and but little work had been done on the jail. By consent of these parties this contract was annulled, the settlement being left to Marcus B. Osborn, N.W. Washburn, and Luke C. Sheldon, as referees. They gave their decision at the regular term of the court, held on the 6th of June following. This was to pay the contractors $127.26, and keep the building. A day or two after the court met again, at the cabin commenced by J. Tillson and finished by A.H. Showers, in Sugar Tree Grove, for the transaction of any business related to the new town.

On June 9th the Court proceeded to lay out the town of Cambridge - a name suggested by Judge Tillson - and ordered a sale of lots to take place on the 26th of the same month; to which date it was adjourned. The town is laid out on two fractional quarters, N.W. and S.W. 7, 15, 3, some 36 acres on each. It has two public squares, which, including the streets, extend the breadth of the town from east to west. They were recorded as Court Square (west) 20 by 40 rods, and College Square (east) 20 rods square. The lots facting the squares were 10 by 20 rods, the others were 20 rods square, save two on the north end of town, which are 20 by 36 rods, and the cemetary, which is 16 by 20 rods.

On the 28th of June the Court met and "appropriated fourteen dollars to Charles C. Blish for surveying town of Cambridge, one dollar and fifty cents for services rendered at same time, and two dollars to Sullivan Howard for specifications and plan of a court-house."

It was ordered that the Court proceed forthwith to the sale of lots in Cambridge, on the following terms; one-third to be paid in six months after date of sale; one-third in twelve months, and the remainder in eighteen months; and that purchasers have the privilege of paying in building materials, on or before the 1st day of September following. George McHenry, being in his place as auctioneer, a full board, and a good attendance of citizens, the sale proceeded. Twenty lots were sold on that occasion, aggregating the sum of $558. For the benefit of those interested, the list of purchasers and number of lot, and amount of sale, in the order in which they appear on record, are given: Joseph Tillson, 1, $20; John Russell, 4, $23; Joseph L. Perry, 7, $21; Jas. Roe, 12, $25; Albert Jagger, 3, $26; Wm. H. Lockwood, 14, $40; Lennan Thurston, 13, $39; Thos. K. Thompson, 10, $26; Wm. A. Ayers, 18, $23; Jos. Tillson, 9, $15; Wm. H. Lockwood, 16, $31; Alex. Qua, 17, $33; Wm. H. Lockwood, 16, $31; Jas. Montgomery, 15, $35; Thos. K. Thompson, 21, $15; Wm. Dawson, 5, $30; James M. Allen, 20, $40; John Jones, 11, $30; Alexander Qua, 8, $21. There were thirteen purchasers, and out of that number but few are known to be living in the county or in the state. Qua lost his life in a stone quarry, one-half mile northeast of Cambridge, where he was crushed by a bank he had undermined.

The growth of the town was not at all in proportion to the necessities of some of the purchasers, and instead of paying for their lots, either in materials of money, as the payments became due, several of them begged off, and their lots went back to the county.

To effect a healthy growth in the new town, roads must be opened, post routes established through it, and a post-office in it, and public buildings had to be erected and population invited. The squel will show that many opposed to the growth of the place scarcely ceased to underrate the locality and its facilities for a healthy growth, and the idea of settling in it or about it was often derided. A mail route leading from Wethersfield to Geneseo was established through the place, and for a while the few inhabitants the luxury of a semi-weekly mail from Peoria. By some means the route was altered so as to leave Cambridge out. Previous to the change of route by the department, the carrier refused to go to Cambridge, but would throw out a bag of mail matter put up at Wethersfield expressly for Cambridge, at the "Corners," ten miles east of town. No office being there, a boy employed for the purpose would proceed at his leisure, pick up the bag and take it to its destination. More than once mail matter has been sent from Cambridge for the east and returned at the end of the week with other matter designed for Cambridge. Those who had important business to transact were afraid to mail thier letters at the county town, because of the delays to which its mail was subjected. Many and unsuccessful were the efforts to have that route re-established through the village, nor til 1856 had the tardy justice of a tri-weekly mail from Geneseo to Kewanee been accorded to the country town. A weekly mail from Princeton, in Bureau County, to Millersburg or New Boston, on the Mississippi River, was the only one from which, for several years, news from the east could be obtained."