OFD Wilson Research

Sometimes the words in front of you just don’t click. In the 1850 census for Clark County, Missouri, a young OFD Wilson is recorded as owning $2,000 land value. I realize, now, that the apparent wealth of OFD Wilson senior in 1850 did not come from deceased parents. He married the girl! It was his wife, Nancy Jane Francis, that had the money. Nancy’s grandfather, Thomas, was quite wealthy. He left her a share of his estate as her father, Levi, had died.

Did OFD go to California? He probably did. In 1850 he had a wife, children, a newborn, land and slaves — and all of that at a young age. It is possible he aspired to more. Maybe gold — maybe not. He certainly had reasons to stay home.

OFD Wilson had a second family. The Hamptons!

On April 1, 1850, OFD Hampton contracted five men to go to California seeking gold on his behalf. OFD Wilson was not contracted, but rather, was a close family member. He was enumerated with the Hampton family in 1850. He and his wife lived with the Hamptons. It is possible OFD Wilson didn't go with the five. For that matter, it is possible the five did not go either. William Buskirk was one of the five. If I have found the same William Buskirk, he was enumerated in the 1850 Clark County Census on September 23. Hampton's contract with the five called for the men to go quickly to California. If William Buskirk did go, he was back in Clark County about 5 1/2 months after departing for California. This seems unlikely.

People in Clark County did go to the gold rush. We don’t know if the Hampton expedition went. Perhaps they did. Alanson Wells, uncle of Mary Frances Wells, went and returned. I don't know the details about his excursion, but it is possible that OFD Wilson was with him.