WILSON, David Barclay - 1912 Bio (1838-1929)

WILSON, BRAMBLE, BLAIR, BOOKER, FETTER, HIFLIN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/6/2007 at 14:20:21

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 123-125

David B. WILSON.

A resident of Jefferson county for fifty-six years, David B. WILSON is well known to citizens of Fairfield and the surrounding district. He is always loyal to the interests and welfare of the community, and displayed the same spirit of faithfulness when during the period of the Civil war he valiantly defended the Union against the attack of the south. He was but seventeen years of age when he came to Fairfield, his birth having occurred in Newark, Ohio, March 16, 1838, his parents being David S. and Kitty Ann (BRAMBLE) WILSON; the former a native of Morgantown, Virginia, and the latter of Chillicothe, Ohio. They were married in the latter place, and, for a number of years, were residents of Newark, Ohio. The father died in 1839, when his son David was but a year old. He was a contractor and builder, always following that pursuit in order to provide for himself and family. A year after the arrival of her son in Fairfield, the mother came to this city and here spent her remaining days, her death occurring in 1875. In the family were three children: Hon. James F. WILSON, United States Senator from Iowa; mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Mary J., who is the widow of Dr. George H. BLAIR and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Alice BOOKER, in Fairfield; and David B., of this review.

The last named spent the days of his boyhood in his native town and pursued his education in the public schools, but in May, 1855, left Newark in order to try his fortune west of the Mississippi, coming to Fairfield where he has since made his home. For a time, he engaged in clerking and then took up the study of law, being admitted to the bar in 1861. He did not enter at once upon practice, however, but put aside all business and personal considerations in order to aid in the defense of his country. It was in May of that year that he offered his services to the government, and was assigned to duty with Company E, Second Iowa Infantry, with which he continued until June, 1864, participating in all of the engagements of the regiment during that time. From February until the 1st of June of the latter year, he was on detached duty as the quartermaster's department in Pulaski, Tennessee. He had joined the army as a private, and, when mustered out, held the rank of lieutenant. Some time following his return to Fairfield, he was appointed United States pension agent for the southern district of Iowa and filled that position for twelve years. He was also engaged in merchandising, conducting a hat, cap and men's furnishing goods business for about three years. Selling out on the expiration of that period, he took up the practice of law. Since 1896 he has held the office of justice of the peace, and also conducted a general collection business.

In February, 1864, Mr. WILSON was united in marriage to Miss Jessie C. FETTER, who was born in Collinsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1841, and died in 1874, leaving a daughter, Jennie C., who is now the wife of Perry E. HIFLIN, agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Fairfield. Mr. WILSON votes with the republican party, but has never been a politician in the usual sense of office seeking. He has ever kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, and, at all times, has manifested a spirit of loyalty and patriotic citizenship, proving his faithfulness to his country in days of peace as he did in the time of war when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south. Because of his long residence in Fairfield, Mr. WILSON needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, being widely known throughout this part of the state, and his many good traits of character, his reliability in business and his faithfulness in every relation of life have commended him to the confidence and high regard of all. His standing among his fellowmen is indicated by the fact that he is familiarly and affectionately termed Uncle David throughout the community.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.