Thomas J. Wilson Jr.

Thomas J. Wilson

Thomas J. Wilson, son of Thomas J. Wilson, Sr., and Elender L. Wilson was born June 22, 1878 near Gentryville, Gentry County, Missouri and passed away at his home in Edgemont, So. Dak., Saturday, January 22nd, 1955.

In 1883, Tom's father joined Mr. Sweat who had formed a colony to migrate to Western Nebraska. At that time the railroad extended west only to Valentine, Nebr., so from there the Sweat Colony progressed by covered wagon to what is now Chadron, Nebr., in Dawes County. After their father had filed on a homestead on Bordeaux Creek, he returned to Missouri to get his family and acted as a guide to a second colony of ten families returning to Nebraska.

Tom grew to manhood in Dawes County and worked on the Spade ranch for a while, then in 1900 Tom, a brother, Ed Wilson, Oscar Jones and Ed Jones came to Niobrara County, Wyoming at that time a part of Converse County, to find grass for their cattle trailing them from Chadron.

On February 3, 1901, he was united in marriage to Grace M. Glenn at Chadron, Nebr., and to this union one daughter, Dorothy was born.

In 1901, he filed on a homestead on Mule Creek and lived there until 1910. Tom and Albert DeGering were in partnership on this ranch for several years, until Albert homesteaded on his own ranch. In 1910 Tom sold out to the Spencer brothers and moved back to Chadron, Nebr. where he built a new house in Chadron and lived there about a year, then moved to the home place on Bordeaux Creek, but he liked ranch life and Wyoming much better so in 1913, he and his family moved back to Wyoming and filed on an additional homestead on Alkali Creek, making their home with Billy Hanson until the new home was built.

Tom had been very active and continued to operate his ranch up until he became ill in September. Since 1953, he had spent part of the time in Edgemont, driving back and forth to the ranch until his health failed last fall.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Dorothy Morris, two granddaughters, Eleanor Whitsel, and Lucille Redfern, and a great-granddaughter Janet Redfern, all of Chadron, Nebr., and two brothers, John E. of Citrus Heights, Calif., and J. Curtis of Wheatland, Calif. and many nieces and nephews and other relatives, also Alberta Glasby, who has made her home with the Wilsons since 1928 and her niece, Beth who has been with them the last eight years. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, one brother and four sisters.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in Edgemont, So. Dak., January 25th with Rev. Costikyn officiating.

Honorary bearers were Chris Christian, Chas Hanson, Jimmy Hammel, Roy Sutherland, Otte Hill and Albert DeGering.

Pallbearers were Albert Glasby, Ted Jones, Paul McDaniels, Earl Darrow, Allan Coates and Roy Boner. (Edgemont Tribune)

The Lusk Herald
January 27, 1955
Tom Wilson Dies at Niobrara Ranch Home Saturday

Thomas J. Wilson, a pioneer in northeastern Niobrara county, died at his ranch home about 6 o'clock Saturday morning. He had been ill for some time.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Congregational Church in Edgemont, S. D., and interment was made in the Edgemont cemetery.

Tom Wilson was originally from Missouri and came to Chadron with his parents when young. He moved to Wyoming and homesteaded on Mule Creek about 1900 but sold to Spencer Brothers soon after. After staying near Chadron he moved back to Wyoming about 1910 and took an additional homestead on Alkali Creek, where he has lived ever since.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Grace Glenn Wilson, a daughter, Mrs. Clay Morris, and two granddaughters.

The Lusk Herald
February 3, 1955
Obituary of Tom Wilson Published

Thomas J. Wilson, son of Thomas J. Wilson, Sr., and Elender L. Wilson was born June 22, 1878 near Gentryville, Gentry County, Missouri and passed away at his home in Edgemont, So. Dak., Saturday, January 22nd, 1955.

In 1883-4, Tom's father joined Mr. Sweat who had formed a colony to migrate to Western Nebraska. At that time the railroad extended west only to Valentine, Nebr., so from there the Sweat Colony progressed by covered wagon to what is now Chadron, Nebr., to Dawes County. After their father had filed on a homestead on Bordeaux Creek, he returned to Missouri to get his family and acted as a guide to a second colony of ten families returning to Nebraska.

Tom grew to manhood in Dawes County and worked on the Spade ranch for a while, then in 1900 Tom, a brother, Ed Wilson, Oscar Jones and Ed Jones came to Niobrara County, Wyoming at that time a part of Converse County, to find grass for their cattle. They trailed them from Chadron.

On Feb. 3, 1901, he was united in marriage to Grace M. Glenn at Chadron, Nebr., and to this union one daughter, Dorothy, was born.

In 1901, he filed on a homestead on Mule Creek and lived there until 1910. Tom and Albert DeGering were in partnership on this ranch for several years until Albert homesteaded on his own ranch. In 1910 Tom sold out to the Spencer brothers and moved back to Chadron. He built a new house in Chadron and lived there about a year then moved to the home place on Bordeaux Creek, but he liked ranch life and Wyoming much better so in 1913, he and his family moved back to Wyoming and filed on an additional homestead on Alkali Creek, making their home with Billy Hanson until the new home was built on the homestead.

Tom has been very active and continued to operate his ranch up until he became ill in September. Since 1953, he had spent part of the time in Edgemont, driving back and forth to the ranch until his health failed this fall.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Morris; two granddaughters, Mrs. Eleanor Whitsel and Mrs. Lucille Redfern, and a great-granddaughter, Janet Redfern, all of Chadron. Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Mary Blinn of Chadron, Nebr., two brothers, John E. of Citrus Heights, Calif., and J. Curtis of Wheatland, Calif.; many nieces and nephews and other relatives; also Alberta Glasby, who has made her home with the Wilsons since 1928 and her niece, Beth, who has been with them the last eight years, besides many friends and neighbors as Tom was loved and respected by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, one brother and four sisters.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in Edgemont, So. Dak., January 25th, conducted by Rev. Costikyn.

Honorary bearers were Chris Christian, Chas Hanson, Jimmy Hammel, Roy Sutherland, Otte Hill and Albert DeGering.

Pallbearers were Albert Glasby, Ted Jones, Paul McDaniels, Earl Darrow, Allan Coates and Roy Boner.

Relatives attending were: Fred Glenn, Baton Rouge, La.; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Whitsel; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rhoads and Garlan; Mrs. Ella Huling; Howard Huling; Eleanor Shafer and Pearl Kruse, all from Chadron.

Friends from out of town attending were: Mr. and Mrs. Bill Glasby, Sundance, Wyo.; Gladys Glasby, Sheridan, Wyo.; Mrs. T. W. Delicate, and Mrs. Archie Howes and Rudy Schienost all of Custer, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Barlett and Arthur Jay, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Cuckler, Mrs. John Glover, Mrs. Sterling Redfern, Art Montgomery, Rose Grantham and Dave Harris all of Chadron, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Flowers of Alliance, Nebr., and Frank Barcal of Crawford.

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