Bourbon County Biographies
HIERO TENNANT WILSON.
Col. Hiero Tennant Wilson was born near
Russelville, Logan county, Kentucky, September
2, 1806. His parents were Virginians; his father,
Samuel Wilson, had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Col. Wilson was raised on a farm
and acquired a common school education; when
grown he went to Russelville and secured a clerkship in a store where he learned something of the
mercantile life. In 1834 he moved from Kentucky
to Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, to assist his brother, Thomas E. Wilson,
who was the Post Sutler and Indian trader at that
point. He remained there until 1843, when he was
appointed by the secretary of war as Post Sutler
of Fort Scott, which had been established as a
military post the previous year. He came to Fort
Scott in '43, thus becoming the first citizen that
lived here. Besides being Post Sutler and doing
business with the military, he extended his business with the people of Western Missouri and the
Indians. The tribe with which he traded most?
was the Osage, whose headquarters at that time
were at the Osage Mission, (now known as St.
Paul) some thirty-eight miles southwest of Fort
Scott. This was a Catholic Mission, established
some years before our town. The Colonel soon
learned the languag^e of the Osages, having
acquired the Cherokee and Creek while at Fort
Gibson. He became very popular with this tribe ;
they termed him the Big White Chief. The Colonel
always treated them as kindly as he would one of
his own race; he was popular with the military of
the Post and retained his position of Sutler until
the Post was abandoned, in 1853. He continued
in the mercantile business after the abandonment of
the Post, which was left solely in charge of
Orderly Sergeant Reed. The property was then
advertised for sale and Major Howe came with an
auctioneer to sell the buildings. The government
had no claim to the land on which the buildings
stood, as there was no reservation at this Post.
Col. Wilson protested the sale, claiming his right
under the pre-emption law of 1841. Previous to
the sale quite a number of people had occupied the
houses and some were then residing in them. The
sale was made April 16, 1855, and from it the
government realized less than $5,000 of the $200,000
which the Post improvements had cost. The loss
was due to the government not establishing a military reservation, and to Col. Wilson's suggestion
that each purchaser should only buy just what he
wanted for his own use, (and not for speculation).
There was no complaint. Each bought a home for
himself. Colonel Wilson bought one of these
houses and lived in it until the day of his death.
After the abandonment of the Post and sale of
buildings he continued in the mercantile business
and builtl up a good trade. In 1858 he took as
partners, Joseph Ray of Michigan, and S. B.
Gordon of Jefferson City, Mo., the firm bearing
the name of Wilson, Gordon & Ray. Ray and
Gordon were twins, both having been born on
November 25, same year, one in Michigan and
one in Missouri � afterwards to meet and form a
partnership. This firm sold in '66 or '67 to McCord
Brothers. Col. Wilson then handled real estate
and insurance until old age prevented him from
attending to business. After the Fort was abanoned in 1855, a town company was formed by Col.
Wilson and some of the parties that lived here at
that time, but it did not make much headway.
In the summer of 1857, George A. Crawford, in
company with a party consisting of Eddy, Holbrook and some others from the States, came to
Fort Scott and took Col. Wilson in with them and
bought out the first company and formed the Fort
Scott Town Company with George A. Crawford as
President, Col. Wilson as Secretarv and Treasurer. Crawford and Wilson being the only
resident members of the company had full sway in
handling the property. In selling lots they gave
bond for a deed until they could get a title from
the government to the land, which was obtained in
the fall of 1860. Col. Wilson was looked upon as
the Father of Fort Scott. He has held office in
First Territory Legislature, County Commissioner
of Bourbon county and member of the City Council, only because the interests of the community
seemed to require it ; he was never an office seeker.
He took an active part in getting railroads to
Fort Scott. He was one of the principal parties
in the organization of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Co. that was a forerunner of the M., K. &
T. Railroad that now runs through Fort Scott.
The county of Wilson was named for him, also
Wilson street.
His parents were of the Cumberland Presbyterian
faith, but the Colonel was not a member of any
church, but was liberal to all; and if there ever
was an upright, honest, conscientious man, he was
one, � temperate in his habits, straightforward in
his dealings with his fellow man, he was an example for any church member to take pattern from.
He was married in Pettis county. Mo., near
Booneville, to Elizabeth C. Hogan, daughter of
Gen. David Hogan ; one of a large family of children, by whom he had three children: Virginia T.,
Elizabeth C. and Fannie W. These daughters
were educated at the old Visitation Convent on
Cass Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. He was originally
a Whig, but since the settlement of Kansas he
always affiliated with the Democratic party. He
was a great admirer of Zachary Taylor, Henry
Clay and Daniel Webster, (was personally acquainted with Taylor and Clay). He named his
three daughters for these three noted men: Virginia Taylor, Elizabeth Clay and Fannie Webster.
Col. Wilson was of the Chesterfieldian style, a
Southerner born, a refined gentlemen in all respects;
of large stature, six feet two inches in height,
weighing 206 pounds and well proportioned; kind
to all, and as polite to the humblest servant as to
the man of wealth; exceedingly neat in his attire
and regular as a clock in his habits; he was firm
in his convictions and never swayed from what he
thought right. He was admired, honored and
respected by his fellow citizens. He died in August,
1892, at the good old age of 86, mourned by all
who knew him. His good wife died three years
later.
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This website created August 22, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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