Wilson Family Burial

"On the Wilson farm north of Eel River, just outside the city, in the center of a field opposite the north end of Seventeenth street are buried Gen. Walter Wilson, March 18. 1838, age fifty-six; Gen. Walter Wilson's wife, January 6, 1865; Wm. Wilson and son Alex, and other members of his family, but the latter have lately been removed to Mt. Hope.
There is a large monument to mark the grave of General Wilson and the lot is surrounded by a hedge fence and several large trees which can be seen from Seventeenth street.
This Farm belonged to Walter Wilson and he selected a beautiful burial ground overlooking the town. He was born 1782, died 1838. He was a general in the Indian wars and fought at Tippecanoe; was a member of the first Indiana legislature in 1816; came to Cass County in 1828 and again served in the legislature in 1831-32."

Published: March 16, 2007 Pharos Tribune

Cemetery uncovered

After many years, resting place of general cleared

by Kevin Lilly
Pharos-Tribune staff writer

City crews recently removed years of debris from the Walter Wilson Cemetery in a wooded area south of Smith Street.

For the past two weeks, as schedules permitted, Street Commissioner Don Crain and Sexton Mike Nicoll have put city workers to the task of clearing fallen limbs, weeds, saplings and full-grown trees from the pioneer cemetery.

Crain said when he arrived a person could hardly enter the cemetery walking upright because the undergrowth was 10 feet high in places and thick.

The crew’s efforts revealed weather-worn headstones and the resting place of a general who served in the Indian wars.

According to Richard Copeland’s History Buff column, Wilson, born in 1782, was a spokesman for Gov. William Henry Harrison in communicating with the Native Americans. At the age of 29, he traveled to Prophet’s Town and spoke with Tecumseh to relay Harrison’s message of disappointment with the broken treaty.

Wilson was also put to the task of resolving dangers to Indiana settlers from Native Americans.

On Nov. 7, 1811, Wilson fought to victory over the Native Americans in the Battle of Tippecanoe. He later achieved the rank of brigadier general. He fought Native Americans once more at the Mississinewa villages.

Before coming to Cass County, he got involved in politics. In Knox County, Wilson served in the Territorial Legislature and later was elected a member of the first Indiana Legislature in 1816.

Wilson and his family arrived in Cass County in 1828. He was one of the first farmers to work the fields north of the Eel River. The general died on March 18, 1838.

The cemetery cleanup will continue.

“We’re not done yet,” Nicoll said. “The weather tells us when we can go out there.”

Also a factor is department workload. Nicoll and Crain say they have been sending workers to the old cemetery as they had time available.

The cemetery is in Clay Township “north of the Eel River just outside the city in the center of a field — opposite the north end of 17th Street,” according to Cass County records.

There is no public access. The land, once owned by the Wilson family, is part of a 24-acre plot that belongs to Chase Associates out of Indianapolis, according to records from the Cass County Auditor’s Office.

A history of the Walter Wilson family cemetery

On the Wilson farm, north of Eel River, just outside the city, in the center of a field opposite the north end of 17th Street, is a cemetery containing the graves of Gen. Walter Wilson, March 18, 1838, age 56; Gen. Wilson’s wife, Jan. 6, 1865; Wm Wilson and son Alex. The cemetery once contained the burial sites of other family members, but those have lately been removed to Mount Hope.

There is a large monument to mark the grave of Gen. Wilson, and the lot is surrounded by a hedge fence and several large trees that can be seen from 17th Street.

Wilson was born in 1782 and died in 1838. He was a general in the Indian Wars and fought at Tippecanoe, was a member of the first Indiana legislature in 1816, came to Cass County in 1828 and again served in the legislature in 1831-32.

Source: The History of Cass County by Dr. Jehu Z. Powell, 1913

Want to help?

Cemetery supporters are searching for a group of volunteers to keep the weeds in the cemetery down during the summer. Those interested should contact Thelma Conrad at the Cass County Historical Society at (574) 753-3866.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com

View of Wilson Family Burial Grounds with monument to General Walter Wilson in center. Footstone or lot marker perhaps ---->
View of Wilson Family Burial Grounds with monument to General Walter Wilson in center. Although difficult to read will allow you decipher. Click on image for larger view. Wife of T. J Wilson, etal ----> .
Can any one make out the inscription on the above? Amy A Wilson died June 13 1844
Monument to General Walter Wilson who died 1838 at age 56 years and 2 months