Wilson, Frazer E *PIC*

Posted By: Wally Garchow
Date: 19 January 2003

transcribed from Frazer Wilson's History of Darke County, v. 2, 1914, pp 422-425.

FRAZER E. WILSON.

The compiler and editor of the historical volume of this work is the son of Augustus N. and Sarah C. (Niswonger) Wilson, whose biographies appear in this book. He is the third of a family of seven living children and was born in Dallas (now Ansonia), Ohio, on Sunday, September 10. 1871. In the spring of 1873 the Wilson family moved to Greenville, Ohio, and it was here that the subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days, and received his early education. On May 21, 1890, he was graduated from the Greenville high school and later attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and Oberlin College. In 1892 he became a member of the firm of A. N. Wilson & Sons, in the dry goods and carpet business, in which business he has been engaged most of the time since. The pursuit of a mercantile career, however, has never completely engrossed his attention, and he has devoted much of his spare time to the cultivation of his natural talents and peculiar inclinations. In his high school days he manifested much interest in natural science, especially in geology, but later turned his attention to the study of local history, archeology, ethnology and kindred subjects. Desiring to reconstruct a brief, reliable and readable account of the early campaigns of St. Clair and Wayne and the peace which followed he published "The Treaty of Greenville" in 1894 on the eve of the centennial of that important event. This work he later rewrote and published it in 1909, under the title, "The Peace of Mad Anthony," placing it in some of the largest and best libraries in the United States. He was instrumental in founding the public museum in 1901, and has served as one of its curators ever since.

He was also a charter member of the Greenville Historical Society, serving as its first president and now holding the office of secretary in that organization. This society placed the memorial bronze tablet commemorating the Treaty of Greenville, in 1906, erected the Fort Jefferson boulder monument at Fort Jefferson in 1907, and has assisted materially in building up the museum. For his contributions to the publications of the Ohio Archeological and Historical Society and the promotion of its work he was made a life member of that society July 5, 1907. He is also a member of the Fort Recovery Monumental Association.

On Tuesday, June 7, 1904, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Pearle Larimer, eldest daughter of John Wright and Caroline (Mowen) Larimer.

The Larimer family was of Scotch-Irish descent and settled at an early date in Pennsylvania. Isaac Larimer, the grandfather of John W., settled in Fairfield county, Ohio, with the pioneer families. He enlisted as a volunteer from Fairfield county in the war of 1812, serving as ensign in Captain George Saunderson's company, Ohio Militia, from April 16, 1812, to April 16, 1813, was taken prisoner at the capture of Detroit, and is said to have been the only officer in his regiment who was allowed to retain his sword. which now hangs in the public museum in Greenville.

Isaac Larimer, his son, was born September 14, 1808, and was a man of great decision of character and vigorous intellect. With meager schooling he applied himself to the study of the literature and politics of his day, and became a forceful and ready impromptu speaker. He was a Democrat, but became a strong advocate of abolition during the Lincoln and Douglas campaign. He represented his district, comprising Perry, Hocking and Fairfield counties, in the Ohio legislature, in which he served two terms. 0n October 9, 1838, he married Margaret Ray, daughter of Samuel and Mary Ray. Isaac Larimer and his wife were both stanch Presbyterians, and took an active part in the work of that church. To them were born two sons and four daughters. John Wright Larimer, the fifth in order of birth, was born near Lexington, Perry county, June 24, 1846. He spent his early days in Perry and Fairfield counties, where he assisted in the work of farming and received his education, which was cut short by the breaking outof the civil war. He enlisted in Company B of the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, February 23, 1864, and served to the close of the war, being present in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign on Sherman's famous "march to the sea." In 1865 he came to Darke county with his parents, who settled about two miles southeast of Greenville.

On November 12, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret C. Mowen, daughter of David and Sarah (Hartle) Mowen. To them were born one son, and four daughters, the son, Isaac Wright, having died at the age of nine years. His daughters are Pearle (Wilson); Ethel; Sara, who did much of the transcribing of Vol. I of this book, and Virginia, who graduated from the Greenville high school in 1906. Mrs. Larimer and daughters are members of the Reformed Church, in the work of which they have shown much interest.

Mrs. Larimer is the daughter of one of the pioneer families of Richland township, where she was reared and educated, and is a woman of high character and ideals and manifests much interest in the affairs of state and church.

After spending the most active years of their married life on the farm where, by inheritance, purchase, hard labor an sacrifice, they secured and greatly improved a fine farm of about 160 acres, they moved to Greenville in 1901, where they later purchased themselves a home on Wayne Avenue, in which they still reside.

Mr. Larimer has taken an active interest in the local affairs of the Republican party, having served its interests in various capacities. He has been for many years an enthusiastic member of Champion Lodge No. 742, I. O. O. F., having passed all the chairs, and has been a faithful member of Jobes Post, G. A. R., of Greenville, in which he served as commander. Like his father, he is a man of decided convictions, and manifests much interest in public affairs.

Mr. Larimer's mother died November 28. 1873, and his father January 25, 1874.

Pearle Larimer Wilson has taken much interest in the work of the Reformed Church, which she joined in her youth.

Frazer E. Wilson has been identified with Sunday school work since a child, being during his boyhood years a member of the M. E. Sunday school of Greenville. In the spring of 1896 he joined the Central Congregational Church of Dayton, in which city he then lived, and took an active part in the work of that church until it disbanded about 1899. After his marriage he transferred his membership to St. Paul's Reformed Church October 2, 1904, and has remained an active member ever since, having served as superintendent of the Sunday school, teacher of the men's class, deacon and church clerk, and member of the building committee, believing that the work of these organizations is second in interest and importance to no other. For years he has been a student of church history and religious literature, in which subjects he is much interested.

On November 7, 1901, Mr. Wilson was elected treasurer of the city of Greenville on the Republican ticket and served two years in that capacity, and as treasurer of the board of education.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson reside on the corner of Wayne Avenue and Sater Street, where they built themselves a home in the summer of 1904. They are the parents of three children John Larimer, born October 13, 1905; Wayne Alden, born November 29, 1908, and Miriam, born March 30, 1912.

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