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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MANUEL H. WILSON, a prominent and representative farmer of Perry County, residing on section 36, township 6, range 2, has the honor of being a native of Illinois. He was born in Franklin County September 8, 1851. His father, Peter Wilson, was a native of Tennessee and an early settler of Franklin County, where he bought land. He there married Polly Rea, and in 1856 removed to Madison County, where his death occurred on the 1st of January, 1857. They were the parents of five children, four of whom grew to mature years, while three are yet living. Joseph and Peter are both farmers of Franklin County.

Our subject was a youth of six summers when his father died, and with his mother he went to Missouri, where he made his home until 1865, when he returned to his native county. Its public schools afforded him his educational privileges. On the 12th of December, 1869, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Welch, daughter of Richard Welch, a native of Tennessee. They began their domestic life in Franklin County, and two years afterward removed to Du Quoin, where Mr. Wilson engaged in mining for about fourteen years. He then turned his attention to farming. In 1881 he bought forty acres of timber land, which he cleared and improved, and to his farm he added from time to time until he owned one hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred and ten acres are under a high state of cultivation. The buildings upon the place stand as monuments to his enterprise, and its neat appearance indicates his careful supervision.

A family of nine children was born unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, seven of whom are yet living. Charles is married and follows farming in Perry County; Cicero died at the age of three months; Harry died at the age of eight years. Silas, Guy, Ella, Henry, Rosa and Alice are at home.

Mr. Wilson has been a successful general farmer and stock-raiser, but he now gives the greater part of his attention to bee culture and to the manufacture of bee hives. He is interested in that business with Mr. Brayshaw, and they manufacture what are known as the square hive, the dove tail and the Egyptian hive. The excellence of these hives is attested by their large sale. Mr. Wilson has about one hundred colonies of bees, and finds their culture to be a profitable business. In politics he takes an active interest in and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He was formerly Chairman of the County Republican Central Committee. He has served as School Director, and at this writing is one of the efficient Trustees of the township. He belongs to the Farmers’ Mutual Benefit Association, and was a delegate to the National Convention in Indianapolis in 1891. Mr. Wilson and his wife hold membership with the Christian Church. His life has been an honorable, upright one, which has gained him the confidence and high regard of his fellow towns-men. He is also a self-made man, whose success is due entirely to his own efforts.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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