JOHN WILSON, superintendent of Washington County Home, located in Chartiers township, was born September 15, 1844, in Hopewell (now Independence) township, Washington Co., Penn. He is a son of John and Ellen (Murphy) Wilson, natives of County Down, Ireland, whence they emigrated in 1838 to Washington county, Penn., settling on a farm in Hopewell township. Mr. Wilson owned a good farm, and followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1877, his wife surviving him until July, 1878. They were the parents of three children: Mary M., wife of John Adamson, of Hopewell township; John; and Samuel, married and residing in California. John Wilson was reared in Independence township, and received his education in the district schools of the same. He commenced life as a farmer boy and continued to follow agriculture till 1882. On April 22, 1875, he was married in Independence township, to Miss Lizzie A. Denny, a native of Washington county, daughter of Walter and Mary (Welch) Denny, also natives of this county. Mr. Denny is a farmer of Independence township, and has been a resident of Washington county all his life, the Denny family having settled here at a very early date. After his marriage Mr. Wilson located in Independence township, and in 1877 removed to Hopewell township, where he remained till 1882, when he abandoned farming and engaged in the Revenue service as storekeeper and gauger in the Twenty-second District of Pennsylvania, in which he continued till December 1, 1885. He then embarked in general merchandising at West Middletown, this county, following this until his appointment as superintendent of the County Infirmary, which took place in 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two children: Annie G. and Mamie E. Mr. Wilson and his wife are members of the U. P. Church at Washington. He has been identified with the county all his life, and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community.
Text taken from page 264 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]