David D. Wilson – Biography
DavidD. Wilson
DAVIDD. 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 parentshaving 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.
JamesWilson was reared and married in Oldham, and was there employed in a cottonfactory till 1842, in the spring of which year he sailed for America, embarkingat Liverpool and landing at New Orleans. He came up the Mississippi andIllinois rivers into Illinois, and located in Cass county. He subsequentlymoved to Jacksonville, and five years later to Springfield, his death occurringat the latter place in 1850. His wife was, before her marriage, Miss AmeliaTaylor, and she, too, was a native of Lancashire. Her death occurred inCass county a few months after their arrival in this county.
Afterthe death of his father, David D. was taken in charge by a family in Sangamoncounty, and with them he lived until he was fourteen. From that time hecared for himself. He found employment with his brother-in-law till 1860,and at that time commenced to learn the trade of carpenter. His employersoon emigrated to Iowa, and in 1861 young Wilson turned his attention tothe trade of printer, at which he worked in the office of the JacksonvilleJournal.
In1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and First Illinois Regiment VolunteerInfantry, and was in the State service one month. When the regiment wasmustered in, he was rejected on account of a crippled hand. In 1864 heenlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment Illinois VolunteerInfantry, this time being accepted. He served till the term of his enlistmentexpired, when he was honorably discharged. He then went to Nashville, Tennessee,expecting to work at his trade, but was taken sick and soon afterward returnedto Illinois. After his recovery he farmed in Morgan county one year. Thenhe 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 Julyof that year. Next we find him engaged in the grocery business, which hestill continues, and in which he has been eminently successful. He beganwith a small stock of goods, his natural business ability secured him agood trade, and he is now ranked with the successful business men of thetown.
Mr.Wilson is a man of family. He was married, in 1866, to Martha Taylor, anative of Morgan county, Illinois, and their union has been blessed bythe birth of four children: Mamie, Ella G., Herbert S. and Mabel.
Heand his wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican,favoring prohibition.
BiographicalReview of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, BiographicalReview Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 276-277.
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