DAR gives H.T. Wilson documents to state historical society

By Bernita Hill

Special to the Tribune

The Molly Foster Berry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented three original documents to the Kansas Historical Society, Topeka, on Aug. 10, 2006.

These included an original 1844 Day Book, similar to a ledger, an 1851 Day Book and a letter written to the Fort Scott Post Sutler Hiero T. Wilson in 1853. The Wilson documents were in DAR's possession because Wilson's daughter, Elizabeth Goodlander, was a member of DAR.

Accepting the documents were Pat Michaelis and Nancy Sherbert.

Michaelis is the director of the library and archives and Sherbert is the curator of photographs and acquisitions coordinator.

"These will be some of the oldest in our Kansas collection," Sherbert said.

Wilson came to Fort Scott in 1843. He had been born in Kentucky and had been at Fort Gibson for nine years. In 1849, he bought out his partner, John A. Bugg, who had also acted as postmaster. Bugg went on to California.

The military was withdrawn in April 1853.

For a while, the Wilsons and the Sgt. John Hamiltons were the only families here, and this was the only store in the area.

A new store building was erected in 1858 and the town was incorporated in 1860. The Fort was reestablished during the Civil War.

Wilson was on the Town Council in 1862 and remained in business in 1868, helping bring the railroad to Fort Scott in 1869. He also established First National Bank and lived here until his death in 1892.