Biographical Information - Wilcox / Jones Township

WILLIAM P.  WILCOX

William Wilcox worked as a land agent for Mr. Andrew M. Jones of the Richards and Jones Land Company and settled his family in Williamsville just a half mile north of what is now the Elk County line sometime around the 1830’s along the Milesburg –Smethport Turnpike.  Wilcox was instrumental in the sale of over 1100 warrants of land to the McKean & Elk Land Improvement Company.

William Wilcox was married to Betsey Paine and had two children, a son Alonzo and a daughter Charissa. Ms. Clarissa Wilcox died at the age of 24 in 1845 and is buried in the Williamsville Cemetery. 

Wilcox erected a tavern as well as a hotel on the south side of the turnpike across from the spring that still exists there today.  This spring was a regular stop for the stagecoach’s and wagons that ran the turnpike. In 1842 Mr. Wilcox moved in family to higher ground near the farms of Rasselas and began to clear the land. He constructed a sawmill and constructed a one & a half story home, a large barn and several other farm buildings.  Wilcox began to become active in politics and first served as the Justice of the Peace.  He was later elected to the Pa. House of Representatives in 1835.  In 1842 he was elected in the Pa. Senate.  He served as speaker of the Senate from 1857 to 1859.  Wilcox was also elected to a term as an Elk County Commissioner.

William Wilcox later decided to leave the area and relocated to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania where he entered other business and political adventures.

During the summer of 1856 and 1857 Wilcox boarded his home to Thomas L. Kane who was hired by the McKean & Elk Land Improvement Company to manage and develop their recently purchased lands.  Two years later Wilcox would sell the residence to Kane who used the home as a summer get-a-way.