David D. Wilson
DAVID D. WILSON, a popular and successful business man of Virginia, Cass county, Illinois, dates his birth in Oldham, Lancashire, England, November 23, 1841. His father, James Wilson, was born in the same shire, his parents having passed their lives in England. James Wilson and his brother, Thomas, and three sisters, were the only members of the family who came to America. Thomas settled in Cass county in 1841, and has since made his home here.
James Wilson was reared and married in Oldham, and was there employed in a cotton factory till 1842, in the spring of which year he sailed for America, embarking at Liverpool and landing at New Orleans. He came up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers into Illinois, and located in Cass county. He subsequently moved to Jacksonville, and five years later to Springfield, his death occurring at the latter place in 1850. His wife was, before her marriage, Miss Amelia Taylor, and she, too, was a native of Lancashire. Her death occurred in Cass county a few months after their arrival in this county.
After the death of his father, David D. was taken in charge by a family in Sangamon county, and with them he lived until he was fourteen. From that time he cared for himself. He found employment with his brother-in-law till 1860, and at that time commenced to learn the trade of carpenter. His employer soon emigrated to Iowa, and in 1861 young Wilson turned his attention to the trade of printer, at which he worked in the office of the Jacksonville Journal.
In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and First Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and was in the State service one month. When the regiment was mustered in, he was rejected on account of a crippled hand. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, this time being accepted. He served till the term of his enlistment expired, when he was honorably discharged. He then went to Nashville, Tennessee, expecting to work at his trade, but was taken sick and soon afterward returned to Illinois. After his recovery he farmed in Morgan county one year. Then he worked at his trade in Jacksonville for a time. In 1875 he came to Virginia, being employed in the office of the Gazette from March till July of that year. Next we find him engaged in the grocery business, which he still continues, and in which he has been eminently successful. He began with a small stock of goods, his natural business ability secured him a good trade, and he is now ranked with the successful business men of the town.
Mr. Wilson is a man of family. He was married, in 1866, to Martha Taylor, a native of Morgan county, Illinois, and their union has been blessed by the birth of four children: Mamie, Ella G., Herbert S. and Mabel.
He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican, favoring prohibition.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 276-277.
Copyright 2000-2006 Judi Gilker; all rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercial use of the information contained in these pages is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appear with the information.