Born April 25, 1834, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He learned the printer's trade in early manhood and in 1850 came to the west, settling in Muscatine, Iowa, where he established a paper and lived for a short time. He then came to Washington where he made his home and for several years was proprietor of a grocery store. Later he took up the plumbing and heating business and for more than half a century has been connected with business interests of this city. He wedded Miss Lucy Gray, whose parents were natives of West Virginia. After losing his first wife Charles H. Wilson wedded Miss Alice Beard. The father reared his family in Washington, where for many years he has been known as an honored and representative citizen and leading business man. He has also figured somewhat prominently in public life, acting as a member of the state legislature in the Fourteenth General Assembly, 1872, during which period his support of vital public measures made him a factor in promoting the substantial development of the commonwealth.