Washington [Township]

James Wilson was born on the 2d day of July, 1802, in Greene County, Ohio. His father was Major Daniel Wilson, a revolutionary soldier, who settled in Greene County in 1796, coming from Pennsylvania. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was John Wilson, who was also an early settler of Greene County, and a Revolutionary soldier who had lost all of his property through the war. They were both men of intelligence and integrity, and John was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio. Major Daniel Wilson died in August, 1847. The first occupation of James was farming. Having a good education, he bagan life at the age of twenty-one as a teacher, which occupation confined his attention for about five years. In 1827 he was married to Nancy Homer, a native of Greene County and daughter of Jacob Homer, an early settler of Greene. Mr. Wilson is the father of seven children. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for forty-two years. He was Justice of Washington Township for nine years. The first vote he cast was for John Quincy Adams. Later in life he became enthusiastic in his admiration for Abraham Lincoln. Socially, the Squire is pleasant and courteous. He is a man who has moved through life without ostentation, and it will be in taste to observe that his life has been one of influence for the right. His family will always remember with pride his high moral principles and friendly manners. It will be in taste to observe that he has always been remarkable as the guardian of children and administrator of wills. For twenty-three years he was Clerk of the Township, and then peremptorily declined re-election. He has at first declined all offices of a public nature he has ever held.