Thomas Clarkson Wilson Sr. (abt. 1841 - 1932)

Born about 2 Mar 1841 in Hull, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor Jane Campbell (McFarlane) Wilson — married 24 Jul 1872 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 11 Mar 1932 at about age 91 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Wilson [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Clarkson Wilson Sr. was born on March 2, 1841 in Hull, England, United Kingdom TO Henry Wilson (Wilson-47943) and Elizabeth Clarkson) Wilson. (Clarkson-1132)

After immigrating to Canada with his parents in 1846, at the age of four. he was raised and schooled in Midland, Ontario. Having received his teachers certification, he taught in Barrie, Creemore, Exeter and Lucknow, Ontario.

Thomas Sr. married Eleanor Jane Campbell McFarlane in Sunnidale, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada on July 24, 1872. They had five children.

George Henry Wilson, their first child was born in 1873; Thomas Clarkson Wilson Jr. was born in Midland, Ontario April 26, 1875; William John Wilson was born in Ontario about 1878.

They moved to Snowflake, Manitoba by means of a covered wagon, along with the Eli Sims family in1880. They took up farming about 3 miles east of town.

Edmond Romain Wilson was born about 1881 and their only daughter Ruth Lilian (Wilson) Oslund about 1883.

The first school of the district was erected on the S.W. corner of 22-1-9, one half mile east of the church. The deed for the land was registered Sept 29, 1882, Samuel Handford to Samuel Oake, John Patterson and Samuel Manning as trustees. This school was given the name of "Snowflake School No. 283".

Thomas C. Wilson, having had teaching experience in Ontario, became their first teacher. The school operated at this site from 1884 to March 1910. The Snowflake Cairn east of the village is now located on this site. Thomas also served on the Louise Municipality for a number of years.

Records show that in 1903 and 1904, Thomas Clarkson Wilson Sr. and his son, Thomas Clarkson Wilson Jr. both granted the Canadian Pacific Railway, right-of ways through their properties as did many others between Snowflake and Windygates.

Thomas Wilson Sr. retired in 1905. His sons, George and Ed operated the farm for some years. George eventually moved to Duluth, Minnesota and Ed moved to Toronto and later to Montreal, Quebec.

Their son William lived in Toronto where he operated a Steam Shovel business, also doing business in Montreal where Ed worked with him.

Thomas Clarkson Jr. farmed a 1/4 to 1/2 section near the old house and eventually went to Moose Jaw and later settled in Summerland, B.C. where he had previously purchased six acres to be cleared and planted into a fruit orchard. Ruth (Wilson) Oslund moved to Winnipeg and Vancouver with her parents and finally to Penticton, B.C..

In January 1907, T.C.Wilson was listed as one of the first nine subscribers to the new small telephone exchange with the phone no. 51K. (Was this T.C. Wilson Sr. or Jr.?)

Thomas and his wife Eleanor moved from Snowflake to Winnipeg in 1909 and in 1930 they moved to the Capital Hill area of Vancouver, B.C.. They also lived in Armstrong, B.C. for a time.

Thomas Sr. died on March 11, 1932 at the age of 90 years and Eleanor passed away five years later on February 14, 1937.

** The Star Mound School District was established in June 1885. It operated a school building on land purchased from farmer James D. Robertson. In 1901, the building was relocated to a more central location at NE15-1-10W.

This school was purchased by the Star Mound Historical Society and, in 1967 was moved to the top of Star Mound. A cairn beside the former school building was erected in 1970 in commemoration of Manitoba's centenary. It was dedicated to the memory of local area pioneers.

NOTES: My wife Marlene and I were fortunate to visit this site on August 3, 1993. My father was born in Snowflake (Pembina) on Aug. 4th. 1904. ( 89 years and 364 days before our visit)

Marlene found a book in the school that contained history of Snowflake. On Page 555 of "Echoes Of The Past", she found information about my great grandfather, Thomas Clarkson Wilson and his family (written by Mrs. Ruth (Wilson) Oslund). I quickly took several photos of the school inside and out and then one of Pg. 555. This, along with family information helped me understand my family's past.

Thank you to the Star Mound Historical Society for the work they have done to keep these memories of Snowflake alive. Ron Wilson.

Sources

• familysearch.org.
• Thomas Wilson, "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
• Thomas Clarkson Wilson, "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927"
• Thomas Clarkson Wilson in entry for Thomas Clarkson Wilson, "Canada Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959" (Thomas Jr's Baptism)
• Thomas Clarkson Wilson in entry for Thomas Clarkson Wilson, "Ontario Births, 1869-1912" (Birth of Thomas Jr.)
• 1906 Thomas C Wilson in entry for W. J. Wilson and Ella Georgina McFarlane, "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927"
• 1923 Thomas Clarkson Wilson in entry for William John Wilson and Annie Mansfield, "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927"
• 1955 Thomas C. Wilson in entry for George Henry Wilson, "Minnesota, Death Records and Certificates, 1900-1955"
• 1960 Thomas Clarkson Wilson in entry for Thomas Clarkson Wilson, "Canada, British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986" (Thomas Jr's death)
• 1981 Thomas Wilson in entry for Lilian Ruth Oslund, "Canada, British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986"
• Thomas Wilson, "Canada Census, 1881, 1901"
• Thomas C. Wilson in household of George H Wilson, 1911"
• Thomas C. Wilson, "Canada, Northwest Provinces Census, 1906"
• Thomas C Wilson, "Canada Prairie Provinces Census, 1916"

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Wilson family tree (Barry C. Wilson) Nov. 19, 1994.
• Ruth Lilian (Wilson) Oslund (Daughter of Thomas C. Wilson)
• Family bible handed down to Earle Wilson.
• www. mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/starmound.shtml
• www.glenbow.org Canadian Pacific Railway. Right-of-way
• A Diary of Snowflake Manitoba.
• Star Mound Historical Society.