Born in Elkhart County, Ind., April 29, 1838, to the union of Reuben and Catherine (Miller) Wilson, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively. He received his education principally in Indiana, and also spent one year in Oskaloosa College after coming to this state. While a boy in Indiana he learned the printer's trade, and later studied medicine in this state, but did not graduate. On the 28th of August, 1862, he joined Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and was in the Western Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by General Hovey, afterwards Governor of Indiana. Mr. Wilson participated in the battle of Champion Hills, the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, the Red River campaign, and in other battles and skirmishes. He was mustered out of the service of his regiment at New Iberia, La., and was made hospital steward in the regular army at New Orleans. Shortly after his discharge, Mr. Wilson returned home and engaged in farming and school-teaching. On the 11th of June, 1867, he married Mrs. Susan W. Baker, daughter of Walter and Mary T. Briggs, early settlers of Jasper County. Mr. Wilson has held a number of township offices, and in 1874 and 1876 he represented the county in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth General Assemblies, holding the Chairmanship of the Committee on Claims. He introduced the first bill organizing a board of control of public charities or state charities. Prior to 1888, he was a pronounced Republican, but being a strong advocate of the reduction of the tariff, he left that party, and has since been independent. He and his family are members of the Christian Church.

Born in Elkhart County, Ind., April 29, 1838, to the union of Reuben and Catherine (Miller) Wilson, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively. He received his education principally in Indiana, and also spent one year in Oskaloosa College after coming to this state. While a boy in Indiana he learned the printer's trade, and later studied medicine in this state, but did not graduate. On the 28th of August, 1862, he joined Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and was in the Western Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by General Hovey, afterwards Governor of Indiana. Mr. Wilson participated in the battle of Champion Hills, the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, the Red River campaign, and in other battles and skirmishes. He was mustered out of the service of his regiment at New Iberia, La., and was made hospital steward in the regular army at New Orleans. Shortly after his discharge, Mr. Wilson returned home and engaged in farming and school-teaching. On the 11th of June, 1867, he married Mrs. Susan W. Baker, daughter of Walter and Mary T. Briggs, early settlers of Jasper County. Mr. Wilson has held a number of township offices, and in 1874 and 1876 he represented the county in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth General Assemblies, holding the Chairmanship of the Committee on Claims. He introduced the first bill organizing a board of control of public charities or state charities. Prior to 1888, he was a pronounced Republican, but being a strong advocate of the reduction of the tariff, he left that party, and has since been independent. He and his family are members of the Christian Church.