J. D. Wilson, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of J. D. Wilson
J. D. WILSON, carpenter and proprietor of planing-mill, was born in Luzerne County, Penn., October 2, 1829. He is one of six living children in a family of eight born to William and Rachel (Clark) Wilson, who were natives of New Jersey and of German descent. William Wilson was a farmer by occupation, and followed that through life. He died in Pennsylvania at the age of sixty-three, in 1861; his widow died in 1879, at the age of eighty-three. J. D. Wilson was reared on his parents' farm, received a common school education, and in 1853 came to Indiana. He went to Lake County first, remaining there about a year; then came to Valparaiso and began working at the carpenter trade, at which business he has ever since been employed. For fifteen years, he was in the employ of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway Company, supervising the construction of bridges and wood work between Valparaiso and Fort Wayne. Two years of this time he resided at Warsaw, Ind., and with the exception of this time has always resided in Valparaiso. In 1872, he purchased his present planing-mill on East Main street, and has since been manufacturing doors, sash, blinds, moldings, etc., and everything pertaining to planing-mill work. He has all the latest improved machinery, keeps employed an average force of ten men, and transacts and average annual business of over $20,000. Mr. Wilson was married in Lake County in 1855, to Miss Nancy P. Brown, and to their union were born six children - Ed L., Rachel, Emma J. and Hylin, living and William and Frank S. deceased. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wilson is a Republican and a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Sir Knight of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 277-278
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook