“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  
Western Historical Company.   1879.


MRS. B. R. WILLSON,  matron of the State Industrial School for girls, 
Milwaukee; Mrs. Willson was born in Allegany Co., N.Y., Aug. 27, 
1827.  The early part of her life was spent in New York, where she was 
educated.  In 1845, she married Z. Willson, and came with him to 
Palmyra, where she has since resided; they have three daughters – Mary 
A., Etna E. and Jessie Z.  Mary A. is the wife of Orra Sherman, of 
Palmyra; Etna and Jessie are students in the village school.  Mrs. 
Willson was in charge of the sanitary stores in the hospital at 
Murfreesboro, Tenn., about three months of 1863, and was appointed 
matron of the State Industrial School July 9, 1879; she has a farm of 165 
acres on Secs. 17 and 21.


Submitted by:  Linda Pingel  (LPingel@worldnet.att.net)