Hiero Tennant Wilson, one of the first white settlers in Southern Kansas and a founder of Fort Scott, was born at Russellville, Logan county, Kentucky, Sept. 2, 1806, the sixth in a family of eleven children. His father, Samuel Wilson, was a native of Virginia who served in the Revolutionary army. At the close of that war he immigrated to Kentucky, where he followed agricultural pursuits and served as surveyor of Logan county many years. Hiero Wilson was reared on his father's farm and after finishing school learned the mercantile business as clerk in a store. In 1834 he went to the Indian Territory to work for his brother, Thomas E. Wilson, post sutler and Indian trader at Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation. When Fort Scott was established as a military post, in 1843, he was appointed sutler and held the position until 1853. During that time he carried on a considerable trade with the soldiers, Indians, and settlers in Western Missouri. When the post was abandoned, in 1855, Mr. Wilson continued in business, and a year later, when the government buildings were sold, bought a home on the Plaza for $150. He made it into a beautiful residence, where he passed the remainder of his life. A number of settlers bought the old fort buildings for homes, and a town company was organized, with George A. Crawford, president, and H. T. Wilson, secretary and treasurer. Soon a thriving village sprang up upon the site of the fort, whose name it retained. Mr. Wilson was energetic and progressive and contributed largely toward building up the city. After continuing his mercantile business for some years he began to deal in real estate, platted part of the first land he preëmpted, as an addition to Fort Scott, and this addition bears his name. One of the streets in Fort Scott and Wilson county were also named in his honor. For a number of years he served as commissioner of Bourbon county, and also as member of the city council. He was a director of the First National Bank of Fort Scott and of the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Company. Originally he was a Whig, but became identified with the Democratic party in Kansas.

In 1847 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Elizabeth Clay, daughter of Gen. David Hogan, of Missouri, and their eldest child, Virginia Taylor, was the first white child born in Fort Scott; she became the wife of William Robinson. Two other daughters were born: Elizabeth Clay, the widow of Charles W. Goodlander; and Fannie Webster, the wife of T. F. Robley. Mr. Wilson died at Fort Scott, Aug. 6, 1892, in his eighty-sixth year.