Re: CHRISTIAN WILT Preston Co WV
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Re: CHRISTIAN WILT Preston Co WV
Chris Pulver 2/21/09
This is a bio from Christian Wilt's son George W. Wilt.
From the Portrait and Biographical Album-Chicago Chapman 1888.
G.W. Wilt, a resident of Ogden Center, actively engaged in farming, was born in Preston County, WV, or more properly speaking, Virginia, as West Virginia was not separated from the Old Dominion.His Great Grandfather, Michael Wilt, was born in Bedford, PA, of German parentage, and was one of the earliest settlers of West Virginia.He located in that part of Randolph County now included in Preston County, 4 miles from the present site of the village of Aurora, where he bought quite a large tract of land, engaged in farming, and spent his last years there.
The Grandfather of our subject, Michael Wilt, was born either in Pennsylvania, or soon after his parents settled in Virginia; however he grew to manhood in the latter state.After his marriage to Lydia Waltz, he settled on a tract of land which his father had bought and cleared his farm from the wilderness.The father of our subject was born on that homestead, and there reared to manhood.He married in his native place Maria Martin, a native of Germany, and the daughter of Peter Martin, who was born, reared and married in that country.Sometime after his marriage, he emigrated with his family to America, and settled in that part of Alleghany County now included in Garrett County, Maryland, where he improved a farm and there died after his marriage.Mr. Wilt settled on a tract of land which his father had given him, and which he improved into a fine farm.He now lived in retirement in the village of Elkins, Garrett County Maryland, but his good wife, the mother of our subject, departed this life in 1863.
Our subject, who was the second child in the parental family, was reared on his father’s farm, and remained with his parents until he was nineteen years old.He then enlisted, in February, 1863, in Company I, 3d Maryland Infantry and immediately marching into the front did valiant service for his country in the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war.He was in the battles of Winchester, South Mountain and many minor engagements.He was discharged with his regiment in June, 1865, and returned home, where he resumed farming occupations until 1868.He then left Preston County and coming to Michigan obtained employment in Ogden Township, where he worked by the month for three years.He then made his first purchase of a tract of forty acres of timber land on section twenty three of Ogden Township, and later he bought sixty acres adjoining his first purchase.He cleared about forty acres of his land, and drained and cultivated it, but in 1882 he sold out and bought the farm on which he now resides, containing 100 acres of land, 70 acres of which are cleared and very productive.There is a fair set of farm buildings on the place, and Mr. Wilt has made many important improvements in the few years the property has been in his possession.He is a practical, energetic man, paying careful attention to all the details of farming, and bids fair to have a very fine farm in the course of a few years.
Mr. Wilt did not begin farming for himself without first securing the aid of a good wife, to whom he was married December 21, 1871.Her maiden name was Sarah Robertson, and she was born in Madina County, Ohio May3, 1851, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Robertson, the former, the second child of George P. Robertson.Mrs Wilt is a member of David Becker post Number 25 G.A.R. He is a faithful and patriotic citizen and actively advocates the interests of the Republican Party.
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Re: CHRISTIAN WILT Preston Co WV
Cheryl Bragg 3/01/09