Peter M. Wilson

Peter M. Wilson

• Father: Robert Wilson b. say 1805
• Mother: Agnes McIntosh? b. say 1805

• Peter M. Wilson was born on 9 April 1832 in Scotland.
• Marriage banns for Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson were proclaimed on 15 May 1853 at Parish of Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
• He was a railway guard at the time of his marriage in Parish of Old Monkland at Langloan.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson, accompanied by William Simpson Wilson and Jean Craig, departed on 11 July 1856 from the Port of Liverpool, England, aboard the ship Albion.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson arrived in the Port of New York on 9 August 1856, accompanied by William Simpson Wilson and Jean Craig.
• The following appeared on 9 August 1856 in The New York Times: (Arrived Saturday, Aug. 9) Ship Albion, Williams, Liverpool July 11, with mdse. and 620 passengers to Tapscott & Co. July 14, James H. Simpson, of Newport, R.I., fell from the mizzen topgallantyard and was drowned.
• He filed a declaration of intent to become a US citizen on 31 December 1859 at Clerk of the District Court, Pennsylvania. Peter Wilson made application and was admitted a citizen of the US on 24 October 1864, State of New York, Erie County Court, before Hon. James Sheldon, having declared on 31 December 1859 before the Clerk of the District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania his intention to become a citizen of the US, witnessed by William Johnston & Benjamin Hayden.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Other members of the household included William Simpson Wilson, Robert Thomas Wilson and Peter McIn. Wilson.
• He was operating a drygoods store, according to the 1860 census.
• He and Margaret Simpson migrated from Pittsburgh circa 1862 to Buffalo, Erie County, New York, accompanied by William Simpson Wilson, Robert Thomas Wilson and Peter McIn. Wilson.
• Peter M. Wilson appeared in the '1863 & 1864 Buffalo, New York, City Directory at Pooley Place near Dewitt Street (boarding), employed at Pratt's iron works, predecessor of Pratt & Letchworth malleable iron works, described in The New York Times in 1872 as the largest manufacturers of saddlery hardware in the US. Also employed at Pratt's was Peter's brother-in-law Thomas Simpson.
• He was naturalized on 24 October 1864 at Erie County, New York. Witnessed by William Johnston and Benjamin Hayden.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1865 in Buffalo, New York. Other members of the household included William Simpson Wilson, Robert Thomas Wilson, Peter McIn. Wilson, Thomas Simpson Wilson and James L. Wilson.
• He was a puddler, according to the 1865 census.
• Peter M. Wilson appeared in the 1866 Buffalo, New York, City Directory at Dewitt Street near North Washington Street listed as a laborer.
• Peter M. Wilson appeared in the 1867 Buffalo, New York, City Directory at Bouck (later Lafayette) Avenue near Rogers Road (later Richmond Avenue) listed as a farmer.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Buffalo, New York. Other members of the household included Peter McIn. Wilson, Thomas Simpson Wilson, James L. Wilson, Robert Thomas Wilson, William Simpson Wilson, Jean Craig Wilson and Agnes McIn. Wilson.
• He was a milkman, according to the 1870 census.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1875 in Buffalo, New York. Other members of the household included William Simpson Wilson, Robert Thomas Wilson, Peter McIn. Wilson, Thomas Simpson Wilson, James L. Wilson, Jean Craig Wilson, Agnes McIn. Wilson, John Simpson Wilson, Christina S. Wilson and Jean Craig. Also in the household was James Simpson (age 23), who origins are as yet unknown.
• He was a milkman, according to the 1875 census.
• He and Margaret Simpson witnessed the marriage of Margaret Adams and Robert Thomas Wilson on 27 November 1878 in Buffalo, New York; with William Alfred Gay, Gospel Minister, officiating.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at Delavan & Richmond Avenue and son James is also enumerated as an apprentice in the household of his cousin William H. Simpson in Cattaraugus County. Also enumerated in the household bere four men who apparently worked for the dairy farm. Other members of the household included John Simpson Wilson, Christina S. Wilson, Peter McIn. Wilson, Thomas Simpson Wilson, James L. Wilson, Jean Craig Wilson and Agnes McIn. Wilson.
• He was a dairyman, according to the 1880 census.
• The following appeared on 6 August 1887 in The Buffalo Evening News: Local Notices. Milk From Healthy Feed. (From the Buffalo Sunday News, July 31, 1887) Peter Wilson's barns, at 715 Richmond avenue, are in the best condition of any visited. He has 53 cows and pastures there in a 40-acre field near the park. The cows were all in pasture. The stable is clean and ventilated with patent roof ventilators. Sewer connections are placed every four feet behind the cows. The stalls are clean and dry. This was the only barn found where brewery or distillery slops, corn starch or sugar meal is not fed. "I wouldn't feed one ounce of the stuff," said Mr. Wilson; my cows get finished middlings and cut hay, and are healthy and clean." The milk here is kept in a patent freezer. There was a big bin of the "finished," which is the trade name of the food, a dry meal one degree better than shorts.
• The Wilson family lived for years at 715 Richmond Avenue in Buffalo (photographed August 2000). Originally known as Rogers Road, Richmond Avenue (renamed in 1879) served as a trail to Buffalo from the Shingletown area in the north.
  

  715 Richmond Avenue, Buffalo, photographed August 2000
  

  715 Richmond Avenue, Buffalo (detail), photographed August 2000
• The following appeared on 3 March 1890 in The Buffalo Evening News: For Sale--Sound chestnut horse, harness, blankets, etc., for $35. 715 Richmond avenue.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson appeared in the New York state census of 16 February 1892 in Buffalo, New York, enumerated near Margaret's brother Thomas Simpson. Other members of the household included John Simpson Wilson, Jean Craig Wilson and Christina S. Wilson.
• The following appeared on 8 June 1898 in the Buffalo Evening News: Gentlemen can find nicely furnished rooms; modern conveniences; in private family; good verandas; 715 Richmond ave; breakfast, if desired. Call from 8 to 10 mornings, or 6 to 8 evenings.
• Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 715 Richmond Avenue. Other members of the household included Jean Craig Wilson and Christina S. Wilson. Also in the household were two roomers.
• He was a plumber, according to the 1900 census.
• Peter M. Wilson died on 29 December 1901 at age 69 in Buffalo, New York.
• Margaret Simpson became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, Erie County, New York.
• The following appeared on 31 December 1901 in The Buffalo Express: [Died] In this city, Dec. 29, 1901, Peter Wilson, Sr., aged 69 years. Funeral from the family residence, 715 Richmond avenue, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Friends are invited to attend. Burial at convenience of the family.
• The following appeared on 27 October 1917 in the Buffalo Courier: [Died] In Buffalo, October 26, 1917, Margaret Wilson (nee Simpson), wife of the late Peter Wilson, aged 79 years, mother of Robert, Thomas, James and John Wilson, Mrs. J. H. Brauer, Mrs. M. Nichols and the late William, Peter and Jean Craig Wilson. Funeral from the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. H. Brauer, No. 781 Tonawanda street, Sunday, October 28, at 2:30 and from Ontario Presbyterian church at 3 o’clock. Friends are invited. Interment at Forest Lawn.
• The following appeared on 11 July 1925 in the Buffalo Evening News: [Died] Suddenly in Buffalo, July 9, 1925, Christine Nichols (nee Wilson), wife of Isaac M., daughter of the late Peter and Margaret Wilson, sister of Robert and Thomas Wilson and Mrs. J. H. Brauer. Funeral from the late residence, 40 Elmview place, Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Friends are invited to attend. Deceased was a member of Colfax Rebecca lodge No. 96, under whose auspices the services will be held at the grave.
• A single grave marker identifies the graves of Peter M. Wilson and Margaret Simpson and Jean Craig Wilson, James L. Wilson, Adnia A. Fisher and Christina S. Wilson.
• The following appeared on 22 October 1965 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Earl B. Strowger, engineer, author and one of the world's pioneer authorities on the generation of electricity by water, has retired after a 47-year career with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. and its predecessor companies.
       He joined the Niagara Falls Power Co. in 1919 after earning a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rochester.
       He was assigned as a draftsman at the now defunct Schoellkopf Hydro Station at Niagara Falls, and later as an engineer, helped design and build the final sections of that plant which later became the center of hydro power electric generation in the Western Hemisphere.
       In 1924, he was promoted to engineer of hydraulics and since then has helped design and develop numerous stations which today number 76 across the Niagara Mohawk system with a total hydro generating capacity of 700,000 kilowatts. Since 1950, he has been the chief hydro engineer for the company.
       Mr. Strowger has written over a dozen technical papers and books concerning the various engineering feats of hydro generation and in 1950 one of his foremost works, "Hydro-Electric Power -- Design and Operation of Powerhouse and Equipment," was presnted at the fourth world power conference in London.
       In 1963, he was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the society's highest honor. He is also listed in "Who's Who" in engineering.
       Mr. Strowger co-authored with Dr. Norman Gibson an article titled "Experimental and Practical Experience with the Gibson Method of Water Measurement" and for many years was associate with Dr. Gibson with consultant work.
       A native of Rochester, Mr. Strowger is a licensed professional engineer of the State of New York and past chairman of the Edison Electric Institute's Hydraulic Committee: a former member of the National Electric Licht Association and presently a consulting engineer.
       Mr. and Mrs. Strowger reside in Kenmore. They have a son, Richard J. Strowger, who is an auditor with Price Waterhouse Co., Buffalo.

• Last Edited: 22 Jan 2017

• Charts: Descendants of WILSON Peter & Margaret Simpson