John Wilson and Susan Calvin

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Husband John Wilson ¹

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           Born: 1 Aug 1799 - Cumberland Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 2 Feb 1865 - Lawrence Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Adam Wilson (      -1834) 1 3 4
         Mother: Sarah Mercer (Abt 1766-1848) 1

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       Marriage: 21 Jul 1842 2

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   Other Spouse: Elizabeth Byers (1801-1841) 2 - 10 Dec 1822 2

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Wife Susan Calvin ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 3 May 1868 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: [Unk] Calvin (      -      )
         Mother: 

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Children

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1 M Martin L. Wilson ²

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           Born: 10 Jun 1843 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 24 Jun 1844 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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2 M Thomas M. Wilson ²

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           Born: 1 Aug 1845 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - John Wilson

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He was in the milling business, and in company with his brothers Thomas and James, erected on Neshannock Creek, the first grist mill of any importance in that section of the country. While building this mill, John and his brother James kept bachelor's hall in a small shanty which, about the year 1822, they had put up on the north side of the mill property. One noon they returned from their work to find their shanty in ashes.
The mill was built about the year 1823. On March 26, 1829, the three brothers received from their father a deed for the mill site and surroundings.
This mill proved a very important institution. Men came to it from a distance of forty miles around to have their grinding done, and frequently would have to tarry over night waiting for work to be done for other customers ahead of them. The mill had a very extensive patronage, and was run day and night, and so great was the pressure upon it, that, to supply the imperative demand of families destitute of flour and meal, it was sometimes run on Sunday. The first mill-dam was constructed of round logs; the second of hewn timbers secured by stone abutments. Both dams were successively swept away by high floods, and in the second, which occurred early in the spring of 1832, a saw mill which stood on the north bank, having its foundation washed out, keeled over on its roof into the flood and was swept some distance down stream.
The dam was at once reconstructed, the men working like heroes in the water, during the months of March and April, the weather being very cold. While running this mill, Mr. Wilson was also engaged with his brothers in a woolen mill.
In 1844, the three brothers erected another grist mill.

When a boy, Mr. Wilson learned the milling business, which was his occupation for the greater part of his life. In company with his brothers, Thomas and James, he erected, about the year 1823, a grist mill on Big Neshannock Creek, about a quarter of a mile above the later mill of his son, E. B. Wilson; also, subsequently, a house on the site of E. B. Wilson's residence. He likewise had an interest in a woolen mill that stood on the north side of the creek, a few rods above the later iron bridge. About the year 1852, Mr. Wilson built a paper mill on the creek, just back of the site where J. C. Shaw's store was later located.
His father, Adam Wilson, and his brother, Thomas Wilson, died very suddenly. The same was the case with Mr. John Wilson. He had been to Ohio with a sled load of buckwheat, and upon his return was found dead on the sled before his own door! As his body was still warm, his death must have occurred only a short time before his faithful team reached home. The cause of his death, like that of his brother Thomas, was an affection of the heart.
Mr. Wilson was noted for his remarkable energy and activity. He was endowed with natural abilities of a high order, and was one of the most efficient, driving business men of his day. These qualities, combined with brilliant conversational powers and a highly mirthful nature, gave him a position among the most influential citizens of the community, and rendered his companionship most enjoyable.

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General Notes: Wife - Susan Calvin

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She was brought up by her uncle, Rev. Samuel Tait, and trained in the doctrines of the Presbyterian church, of which she was for many years a member. She was a woman of intelligence and culture, and of a very sweet temper, and was greatly endeared to her family.

1 Editor, History of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1877), Pg 174.

2 Editor, History of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1877), Pg 177.

3 Editor, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 90.

4 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 65.