Huerfano County, Colorado
Family Group Sheet
The Wilson Family


Contributed by Ted Lopez.

These were pioneers of Huerfano County and had a colorful history. Robert Wilson was born in Missouri about 1866 from the family of John Andrew Jackson Wilson, born 8 October, 1828 (year President Andrew Jackson was placed in office), in Loudoun, Virginia, married Ann Cockran (AKA Annie Cochran lived from 1838-1940). They wed on June 23, 1861 in Shelby, County Missouri where Annie was from.

The family Robert, Edward, Maggie, and Walter, migrated by wagon train herding cattle to Colorado to join up with Tom Sharp (associates from Missouri). They came in the summer of 1872 moving next to the Rumaldo Atencio and Barbara Martinez-Valdez family in Walsenburg. The daughter, Jennie Wilson, was born in Colorado in 1874.

John A.J. Wilson died 12 April, 1910 and is buried in the Gardner Protestant Cemetary with the other family members after they died also.

John A.J. Wilson was was a Corporal on the Union Side in the Enrolled Missouri Militia, Company B then Company I, 70th regiment E.M.M. during the Civil War. His occupation in Missouri was Tailor. John A. J. Wilson's parents were Edward Wilson born about 1780 in Hunterdon, New Jersey, married at Upper Farquier, Virginia on 12 January 1811 (died 18 March, 1853 in Missouri) to Mary Ann Francis who was born on 2 May 1792, Pennsylvania, died 6 September, 1881.

The Wilson Family originated in Yorkshire, England, Quakers who arrived in New Jersey during the colonial years, migrated to Virginia, and owned 4 Slaves in Virgina. Since the family was Quaker and pro-Union, the relationship tot he slaves is unknown.

The Wilson Family migrated to Missouri early on and then John A.J. Wilson took his family to Colorado. On 1 June 1882, Rumaldo Atencio obtained the 160 acre Homestead grant, and on 15th January 1884, John A.J. Wilson obtained the Homestead grant also. The family is listed in the 1885 special census as Ranchers/Cowboys.

Annie Wilson lived to 102 years old and the family basically follows the Path of American Expansion history Westward.

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