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| MARTIN E. WILSON, farmer, sec. 25, Deerfield Tp., was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., July 21, 1836. His parents, Warren and Naomi (Smead) Wilson, were natives of Vermont, but located in Genesee County in 1836. Four years later they settled in Ingha Co., Mich., where the mother still resides on the farm which was her first home in the Peninsular State. The father died April 10, 1877. Mr. Wilson passed his boyhood and youth on the farm under the personal care of his parents, and at 18 went to Newaygo County, where he spent the winter months in lumbering and the remainder of the years was engaged in "breaking." In the spring of 1861 he came to Mecosta County and bought 80 acres of land, where he still resides. His land was then in a state of nature and he proceeded to put it in proper and comfortable condition for a home for his advanced years. He has 70 acres cleared and under tillage. Mr. Wilson was one of the earlist settlers of Deerfield, and, from his integrity and constant zeal for the best interests of the public, has become a valuable and trusted citizen of the township. He has been Justice of the Peace 20 years. In '64 he was drafted into the Union service and assigned to the Fourteenth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was discharged at Detroit, July 10, '65, after ten months' active duty at Savannah, Brier Creek, and Bentonville, N.G., under Sherman. His regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He was married in 1859 to Anna Chipman, who was born in Livingston Co., Mich., and died in '73. Two of the three children born to them are living, - Naomi A and Adelbert E. George is deceased. Mr. Wilson again entered into the bonds of matrimony in '74. He married Eunice L. Royce, a native of Tioga Co., Pa. They have five children: Vernon R., Martin O., Alice M. and Helen. An infant child is unnamed. Mr. Wilson is a Republican. |