Harvey Wilson

Harvey Wilson was born in 1838 in Steuben County, New York.

In 1850 there was on “Hawley” Wilson, born 1838 in New York, living with his parents, Canadian-born Midas (b. 1817) and Elizabeth (b. 1817) and their other children in Howard, Steuben County, New York. In 1850 there was two Harvey Wilsons living in Kalamo, Eaton County, Michigan, father and son, aged 40 and 7 years respectively. In any case, he eventually left New York and came to western Michigan In 1860 there was a “Hawley” Wilson, born 1793 in New York, living in Canisteo, Steuben County, New York, and one Harvey Wilson, b. 1811 in New York, living in Corning, Steuben County, New York.

Harvey stood 5’6’ with gray eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion and was a 23-year-old farmer possibly living in Allegan County when he enlisted in Company E on May 13, 1861. (Harvey was possibly related to Merritt Wilson who would also reenter the service in the Second Michigan cavalry in the fall of 1861; see below.) He was discharged for a hernia on July 29, 1861, at Arlington Heights, Virginia.

After he left the army Harvey returned to Michigan where he reentered the service in Company G, Second Michigan cavalry on September 14, 1861, at Litchfield, Hillsdale County, and was mustered on October 2 at Grand Rapids, giving his residence as Hillsdale County. The regiment left Michigan for St. Louis, Missouri, on November 14, 1861 and was on duty at Benton Barracks in St. Louis through February of 1862. It participated in the siege of New Madrid, Missouri, the siege and capture of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River, in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and was assigned to Louisville in September of 1862. It participated in the battle of Perryville on October 8 and numerous actions in eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia through the winter. Harvey was discharged on December 18, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio.

Harvey eventually returned to Michigan. He was possibly the same Harvey Wilson, age 29 and born in Michigan, who was working as a farmer (he owned some $1200 worth of real estate and was living with his wife, New York native June in Litchfield, Hillsdale County, in 1870. This Harvey was still living in Litchfield in 1880, working as a farmer but apparently married to New York-born Martha (1843-1910); they had one child: Clara (b. 1875). Harvey was living in Ovid, Clinton County in 1890 and 1894.

No pension for service in the Old Third seems to be available. However, one Harvey Wilson of Michigan applied for and received a pension as did his widow Martha.

Harvey died on Saturday, August 26, 1905, presumably at his home in Clinton County, and was buried in lot no. 386, Maple Grove cemetery, in Ovid, Clinton County.