William Wesley Wilson
There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are much the same, the surroundings of individuals differing but slightly and when one man passes another on the highway of life it is because he has the powder to use advantages which probably, in the main, encompass the whole human race. Today among the prominent citizens, prosperous farmers and successful business men of Fayette county stands the gentleman whose name forms the caption to these paragraphs. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judgment and executive ability enter very largely into his make-up and have been contributing elements to the material success which has come to him.
William W. Wilson, who owns and operates a splendid and well improved farm in Union township and who is also interested in a prosperous fencing and implement business in Washington C. H., comes of good old Virginia stock in both the paternal and maternal lines, and exemplifies in himself those splendid qualities which have ever characterized the people of the Old Dominion state. He is himself a native of Fayette county, having been born in Perry township on August 16, 1857. His parents, James and Martha (Simmons) Wilson, were born in Highland county. Ohio, but became early settlers in Fayette county, in the pioneer life of which they became active factors. For a number of years after coming to this county their home was in Perry township, But in April, 1877. they moved to Union township, where the father bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted himself. Subsequently he located on another farm near Washington C. H., where his death occurred in 1901, when past sixty-seven years of age. He was a man of splendid qualities of character and was an affiliated member of the Baptist church. His widow, who still survives him, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. James Wilson was a man of sound business judgment and rendered efficient service as real estate appraiser in 1890 and 1900.
The subject's paternal grandparents, William Wesley and Elizabeth (Fishback) Wilson, were born and reared in Staunton, Virginia. Having determined to seek a home in the New West, they started on the overland journey to the Indian Reserve in Indiana, but when they reached East Monroe, Highland county, Ohio, one of their horses sickened and died, preventing their continuing their journey further. They were the parents of five children, William, James, Henry, Alfred and Joseph. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Wilson were William and Sarah (Harber) Simmons, also natives of the state of Virginia, who settled in Highland county, this state, in an early day and there spent the remainder of their lives, dying there when about ninety years of age. Their children were Elijah, Oliver. Trusten, Edmund. Sarah, Mary, Martha and Louisa.
He to whom the following lines are devoted has spent practically his entire life in the county of his nativity, never having been induced by the wanderlust spirit to seek richer fields elsewhere, and in this he has shown a commendable judgment, for he has. by perseverance, good judgment and indefatigable energy, succeeded in his material affairs, until today he is one of the leading men of his community. He is indebted to the district and graded township schools for his educational training, which he has liberally supplemented through the years by habits of close observation and by extensive reading. He was about nineteen years of age when the family moved from Perry to Union township, and he was reared to manhood on a farm. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Wilson rented land, and was so successful in his vocation that a few years later he was able to purchase thirty-five acres in Union township. In the management of this tract he was also successful and has added to his original holdings until today he owns one hundred and seventy acres of as good land as can be found in his section of the county, the farm being located about one mile south of Washington C. H. In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Wilson is, as stated earlier in this sketch, interested in the fence and implement business at Washington C. H., in which he has met with well deserved success. He is also a stockholder in the Fayette County Bank, one of the strong and popular banks of this county.
Politically, Mr. Wilson has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party, and for the long period of twenty-eight years he has rendered faithful and appreciated service as a member of the school board. Religiously, he is, with his wife, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. to the support of which they give of their time and means.
On the 27th day of October, 1878, William W. Wilson married Martha Swift, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of William and Nancy (Amos) Swift, the former a native of Ireland, born in Kirkele, county Down, Ireland, in 1810. and died in 1902. In 1818 he voyaged to America by sailing vessel. Nancy Amos was born in Highland county, Ohio, Both are now deceased. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Swift, five are now Iivinig. namely: John Wesley, Elijah William, Harrison, Elizabeth and Marlha. Mrs. Wilson's paternal grandfather preceded his family to this country, and was supposed to have been killed by the Indians. His widow and children came later, but found no trace of him and they settled in Pennsylvania, later coming to Highland county, Ohio, where their deaths occurred.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born the following children: Eva became the wife of E. C. McCoy, of Union township, and they have three children. Wilby, Dorothy and Helen: Marion, who operates a farm adjoining that of his father, married Mary Cavinee, and they have five children, Marjorie. Elmo. Elizabeth, Woodrow and Rosaline; Willard, who is in the empioy of his father in the fence and implement business, married Blanche .Michael : Everett and Horatio are also in the employ of their father. Everett was married October 29, 1914, to Wynema Wilson, no relation.
Thus briefly have been recorded the salient features in the life history of one who has, by proper motives and a lofty example, honestly won a place in the front ranks of Fayette county's citizens, and because of his sterling integrity and his efforts for the advancement of the public welfare, has won the approval of all who know him.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)