Abram Wilson was born on December 12, 1838 in Hancock County, Ohio. He was the son of Isaac S. Wilson (b. July 17, 1813, d. June 12, 1863) and Ann Coen (b. October 12, 1814, d. December 04, 1904). Abram married Minerva Ann Barger (b. January 24, 1838, Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia, d. September 15, 1911, Janesville, Coles County, Illinois) on January 30, 1862 believed to be in Bradbury, Illinois. She was the daughter of George Washington Barger (b. November 02, 1814, d. October 03, 1876, Janesville, Cumberland County, Illinois) and Susan Weimer (b. 1812, Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia, d. April 07, 1867, Janesville, Cumberland County, Illinois). They had 6 children: 1) Laura May Wilson (b. November 23, 1862, Coles County, Illinois, d. September 16, 1919, Gays, Illinois, m. John William Furry, August 07, 1879); 2) Mary Jennetta Wilson (b. November 17, 1864, Coles County, Illinois, d. Aft. January 1940, m. Jonathan Wilbert Peters, October 22, 1884, Illinois); 3) Dora Ann Wilson (b. February 07, 1869, d. November 10, 1940, Chicago, Illinois, m. Gurshom Meredith Peters, August 19, 1896; 4) George Newton Wilson, b. December 02, 1872, d. May 13, 1919, Illinois; 5) James William Warren Wilson, b. February 18, 1875, Farmington, Coles County, Illinois, d. July 03, 1919, Lerna, Coles County, Illinois, m. Josephine Pearl Heinemann (b. May 22, 1879, Homer, Coles, Illinois, d. June 11, 1970, Arlington, Fairfax, Virginia) June 18, 1902, Lerner, Coles County, Illinois); 6) Frank Elsworth Wilson, b. February 21, 1879, Illinois, d. July 28, 1880, Illinois. Abram Wilson, according to military records, Abram was 5'8" tall, grey eyes, dark hair and of fair complexion. He served as a private under Capt. Jacob M. Ryun, Co. G, 54th Reg. of Illinois, Vet/Infantry Volunteers – September 1, 1862 to August 21, 1865, Little Rock Arkansas. History states that "The 54th was organized at Camp DuBois, Anna, Illinois, in November, 1861, as a part of the 'Kentucky Brigade'. It was on the extreme left of General Sherman's army at the Big Black River and briefly engaged the enemy at that point." On March 21, 1868, he was paid a $100.00 bounty by the U.S. Army, per the Act of July 28, 1866. After the war, Abram Wilson built a cabin and then enlarged it into a house on their eight-eight acre farm located two or three miles west of Janesville Cemetery, Janesville, Illinois. It is just north of that road. At the intersection, there was a huge shade tree on the south side in 1970. The following article which appeared in a Coles County newspaper presumably in the mid 1850's (could be the Lerna Eagle or something called the Courier.) described a situation Abram was involved in with some other men. "Abram Wilson, of Janesville, was in yesterday and in conversation with him we learned the other side to the story as related in the Courier of August 4th in regard to that cutting affair near Janesville. When the boys met, instead of Dunn speaking to Wilson pleasantly, he applied a vile epithet to him which Wilson resented. In the fight that followed, Wilson used only his pocket-knife instead of a murderous dirk with a blade ten inches long. He didn't even draw the blood on Dunn, but when Barges interfered he was cut slightly but nothing serious as he was out at work in few days. The Wilson boy is as quiet and peaceable a boy as there is anywhere, and is not a reader of dime novels nor an admirer of Jesse James as stated in the Courier. He has a good or a better reputation than the two boys with whom he quarreled." Abram Wilson died on October 03, 1916, Janesville, Coles County, Illinois. He is buried in Janesville Cemetery, Janesville, Coles County, Illinois next to his wife. There is a common large pink granite headstone. The original information and records are in the possession of his great grandson Charles Duane Wilson, Sr., the submitters cousin.