My Genealogy Hound

William H. Wilson, general merchant, was born in Gibson County, August 2, 1843, son of James and Harriett (Wilkes) Wilson, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The parents were born in Middle Tennessee in 1816 and 1821, and died in 1858 and 1854, respectively. The paternal grandfather was James Wilson, a North Carolinian and a son of James Wilson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The family came to Tennessee as early as 1810, and to Gibson County in 1836. Our subject is the fourth of six children and was educated in the common schools. In 1861 he joined Company T, Twelfth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, but on account of ill health only served about one year. In 1869 he engaged in the saddlery business in Kenton, but at the end of one year discontinued this and engaged in the grocery business, putting in a general stock in 1874. The same year he formed a partnership in the mercantile business with Henry Flowers, Jr., and Mr. Wilson has since continued. He was married, in January, 1865, to Miss N. B. Porter, who was born in Gibson County in 1844. They have one child, Dora H. Mrs. Wilson died in 1867, and in 1871 Mr. Wilson wedded Miss N. B. Crane, who died in 1875. He again married in 1877 and is the father of two children: Clara H. and Cleveland A. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat and Mason, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.