SAMUEL J. R. WILSON.  Few men in Wayne County have been more prominent for many years than Judge Wilson, the son of Thomas M., and old pioneer, and Rachel (Fulkeson) Wilson; he was born in Ohio County, Ky., September 15, 1816; removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ill., in 1822, and was married to Elvira, daughter of Enoch and Martha (Magaliard) Beach, October 29, 1839, to whom was born Mary J. (Crews), in 1840. Subject was again married in May 1853, to Martha, daughter of Rev. James Crews, and to them were born Martha (Jessup), in 1854, and Thomas M., on February 1857, when Martha died also.  Subject was again
married, July 18, 1857, to Ritter, a sister of Martha, and to them were born Maria C., June 15, 1858; Charles B., July 5, 1863; John W., October 15, 1865; Retha B., June 15, 1868; Robert, March 7, 1870; Nathan E., January 26, 1872, and Lawrence O., June 13, 1876.  Thomas M., Sr., the son of George, was born in Kentucky November 14,1 91; served under Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812, and died in Wayne County, Ill, in April 1855.  George was born in Virginia a soldier in the Revolution, an early pioneer in Kentucky and died in Butler County, that State, in 1835.
Enoch Beach was born in North Carolina; held a commission in the war of 1812; was the first settler in Massillon; a prominent man and died in 1836.  Subject's brothers were Virgil L., George L. and Curtis.  His sisters, Agnes M. (McLin), Elizabeth (King), Martha J. (Hooper), Matilda (Harris), and Maria B. (Read).  Subject is a farmer having 200 acres of good land, of which 170 acres are in cultivation.  He is also a licensed lawyer; acted four years as County Judge; was Deputy Sheriff six years; a Supervisor of the County Court; a Justice of the Peace, and either School Trustee or Director for nineteen years.  Subject was a Lieutenant in Col. Faris Forman's regiment in the Mexican war, and Captain of Company D, Fifth Illinois Calvary in the war of
the late rebellion.  Having lived in the county sixty-one years, he endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and is much gratified at the present advancement.  He assisted the first corps of engineers that ever surveyed a railroad line across the State of Illinois.  In religion, he is a Cumberland Presbyterian; also a Prohibitionist, and is identified with the Republican
party in politics.