Samuel O. Wilson
Samuel O. Wilson is Superintendent of the Fayette County Infirmary and is well fitted by character and ability for this responsible position. He is a native of Fayette County, born in Greene Township March 6, 1845, and is a son of Joel Wilson. His father was a Virginian by birth, and, when young, came to Ohio with his parents, who were among the early settlers of Greene Township. He married Eliza Waln, a daughter of Joseph Waln, who was a resident of the southern part of the county, his farm joining that of Joel Wilson. The Walns were also from Virginia. Of the five children born to Joel Wilson and his wife, all grew to manhood and womanhood, and the three still living are Elizabeth, wife of Lawrence Patton; Nancy, wife of J. N. Moon, of Madison County, Iowa, and our subject.
S. O. Wilson was educated in the district schools of his native towuship, and when his school days were over, he commenced life in earnest as a farmer, in which occupation he has always been interested. After his marriage in the spring of 1865, he continued his occupation in Wayne Township for eleven years. March 1, 1886, he was appointed Superintendent of the Fayette County Infirmary, and has been re-appointed every year since. When he entered upon the duties of his office, he had a hard task before him, as the place was in a very bad condition, the buildings were in bad order, the fences were poor and the farm had run down. But he has wrought a great change by his vigorous management, bringing to his work a clear and comprehensive mind, untiring diligence and unceasing vigilance in looking after matters under his jurisdiction, and the institution and the farm connected with it are now all that can be desired, the buildings kept in good repair and always neat and orderly; and the land by judicious cultivation raised to the highest state of productiveness. Formerly the amount of money turned into the county treasury from the infirmary was very small. The proceeds of the farm placed in the county treasury from that institution average from $3,000 to $4,000 per year. The cost per capita for keeping the inmates in the infirmary was $42.20, which, by the wise economy exercised by the Superintendent, was reduced for the year ending September 1, 1891, to $25.12, the second lowest rate in the State, and at the same time the inmates were just as well fed and cared for as heretofore.
Our subject is genial, polite, gentlemanly and hospitable, and is eminently humane and thoughtful in his conduct toward the people under his charge. He is ably assisted by his wife, who acts as matron, a position for which she has a peculiar gift, as she has an amiable, cheerful disposition, is invariably patient, kind and sympathetic, and has the ready tact so requisite in dealing with others. Both she and her husband have the full confidence of all concerned, and under their care the Fayette County Infirmary is said to be undoubtedly the best in the State.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Sarah C. Pavey was solemnized May 18, 1865, and has resulted in the birth of five children, viz: Mattie, Harvey, Maggie, Fannie and Fred. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Jesse Pavey, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and at the time of his daughter's marriage a prominent farmer of this county. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics; in his social relations, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and religiously, he and his wife are members in high standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]