My Genealogy Hound

MARTIN V. WILCOX is a well-known citizen of Harlan county, is a native of New York, was born May 11, 1831, and is a son of Roswell and Naoma (Bassett) Wilcox, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter a native of New York. His maternal grandfather, Bassett, was a native of New York, a Congregational minister of much note, and was devoted to his faith, having established many churches and devoted his life to the cause of Christianity.

Our subject, Martin V. Wilcox, moved with his parents to Michigan when only two years of age, and there grew to manhood. He married there in 1857, taking for a life companion Miss Eliza Osborn, daughter of Rev. W. H. Osborn. Mr. Wilcox continued to live in Michigan till the beginning of the late war when in August, 1861, he offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company A, Eleventh Michigan infantry, and served two and a half years. He was then promoted to lieutenant in the Fifteenth United States colored regiment, and served in that regiment two and a half years. He participated in a number of battles, among them Stone river, Chickamauga, Missionary ridge, Lookout mountain and others, and his services were mostly in the Army of the Cumberland. He was never taken prisoner and received only one wound. For a number of months he had charge of the Nashville prison. In 1864, his wife and son Henry joined him at Nashville, his wife being employed by the chaplain to instruct the freedmen. Mr. Wilcox was mustered out in April, 1866, having been in the service almost five years.

The war being over, Mr. Wilcox with his family returned to Iowa, where he engaged in the furniture business and remained there till 1874. That year he came to Nebraska and settled in Antelope township, Harlan county. He located a homestead on the southwest quarter of section 27, township 4, range 17, and also a timber claim on the same section, all of which he now owns and has well improved.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been born three children, as follows — Delia (deceased) Henry and Frank N. Henry was one of the chief founders of the town of Wilcox, which is situated in Kearney county. He is a banker, progressive and enterprising, and in favor of all good projects for the advancement of the county. Mr. Wilcox has gone through the turmoils of war, and has suffered the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but has lived through them, has advanced himself to an honorable place among the leading men of Harlan county, and is regarded as one of the best citizens of his township, being honored and respected by all. He affiliates with the prohibition party and is a stanch supporter of its principles. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are both consistent members of the Congregational church and liberal contributors to all charitable purposes. They have a pleasant home and a family of interesting children.