JAMES WILSON, one of the leading citizens of Taylorstown, Penn., was born October 4, 1826, in Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn., and is a grandson of William Wilson. The grandfather was born and married in Ireland, where his eldest child was reared, and the family afterward came to America. They remained in Philadelphia some time, then went to Dauphin county, Penn., where they remained until the death of Mr. Wilson. His children were James (a tailor and clothier in Philadelphia, Penn:), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Rogers) and William. After the death of her father Mrs. Rogers lived some time with her brother James, and finally accompanied her husband to Ohio, where she died. William Wilson (father of our subject) was born March 18, 1789, in Dauphin county, Penn., and in early life learned the wheelwright trade, which he followed both in Dauphin and Washington counties. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and took part in the battle of Baltimore, serving until the close of the war, then came to Washington county, Penn., and purchased a small tract of land in Buffalo township on which he made a permanent home. On October 10, 1822, he was married to Rachel, daughter of James Keer, of Buffalo township, and the following children were born to them: Elizabeth, Jane, James, Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Hodgens), John M., Mary (Mrs. George M. Warick), Emily, Rachel and William. Mr. Wilson was an enterprising citizen; in politics he was a Democrat, and served faithfully in various township offices. In religious connection he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, this county, of which he was a trustee. He died April 27, 1869, having been preceded by his wife August 2, 1848. James Wilson passed his youth on the home place in Buffalo township, and received a good common-school education. At the age of twenty years he went to Philadelphia, and studied ornamental work, remaining there several years, then came to Taylorstown, this county, where he has since resided. On June 4, 1855, he was united in marriage with Rebecca J., daughter of Jesse Wilson, of Bridgeport, Ohio, and children have been born to them as follows: William (who died in youth), De Forest, Kate (Mrs. A. T. Anderson), Ellen (Mrs. Robert Knox), Ida (Mrs. N. A. Sutton), Rachel and Susan Gertrude. The family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Taylorstown, of which Mr. Wilson is an elder and liberal supporter. He is engaged in painting; in politics he is a stanch Democrat and an able worker, and has held nearly all the township offices, being for fifteen years connected in various ways with the school board.

Text taken from page 1047 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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