MATTHEW WILSON is a prosperous stockman and substantial citizen of Canonsburg. He was born November 28, 1833, in County Antrim, Ireland, where he grew to manhood. His early education was very limited, as he was obliged to leave school at the age of eight years. From early youth he was interested in stock, and finally decided to accompany his uncle, George Wilson, on a voyage to America. They had a tempestuous passage, arriving in New York harbor after a voyage of six weeks and three days. They then came by steamer to Philadelphia, thence by canal to Pittsburgh from which place they walked to Canonsburg, where they arrived at day-break on November 14, 1851, the journey having been made in fourteen days. Matthew hired out to a farmer for one year at $8.00 per month, and at the expiration of that time engaged for the next nine months. He then began working for a butcher, and purchasing a copy-book, slate, pencil and candle, devoted his evenings to energetic study. He remained with his employer four years, taking charge of the business after the first twelve months. Having saved about $600, he then invested in stock, and driving them to Allegheny, sold them in three months at a profit of $600. On April 3, 1856, he was married to Jane, daughter of George Wilson, and they have had three daughters, namely: Jennie, Mary (wife of S. C. Smith), and Martha B. (Mrs Wilson, died November 11, 1862). After his marriage he took a contract for furnishing meat to the hands of a new railroad then in progress of construction along Chartiers Valley, and lost in that transaction $3,000. He had good credit and perseverance, so he rallied, and in 1863 went into the oil business in Oil City, buying and shipping oil from that city to Pittsburgh. Losing all the money he had accumulated, he came back from Oil City and again started in the butchering and stock business, driving sheep and cattle over the mountains, and making about five trips during the summer, selling the stock in Lancaster and the States of Delaware and New Jersey. In 1892 a book was sent to him that had been edited and published by a friend of his in regard to his life and travels while in the stock business. This friend sold the copyright of it for $1,000 to a firm at St. Louis, Mo. Of this publication Mr. Wilson was entirely ignorant until he received a copy of the book. In the year 1886 he took a trip to Europe, taking a nephew aged ten years with him. They sailed from Philadelphia on the American Line May 14, making the voyage going in fourteen days, and in returning they were on the water twelve days. Of late years Mr. Wilson has devoted his principal attention to the butchery, conducting a very extensive and profitable business. He has shipped a large amount of stock to Philadelphia and New York, always realizing a good profit from the sales. In politics, he is an active and zealous worker in the Democratic party, of which he is a valued member.

Text taken from page 1059 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/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]