Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3 - Группа авторов - Страница 51

There is no denying the fact that austere virtue leads to the greatest degree of happiness, and that in the case of the Wilson family it has also led. to those great concomitants of happiness, — longevity, business ability and success generally.

Mr. Wilson, who has now for the past fourteen or fifteen years been Et retired resident of Mount Vernon, enjoying in the evening of life the happy results of a life well spent, was born March 16, 1820, in Colchester county, Nova Scotia, where his grandfather, William Wilson, was one of the first settlers, after England had gained possession of the dominion from the French. He was a farmer from Londonderry, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and his adherence to Presbyterianism was of the most zealous type, although in his manner he was quiet and unassuming. He married Esther Reid and had seven sons and three daughters, — Samuel, William, John, Henry, Frank, Robert, James, Hannah, Mary and Esther, — all of whom lived to be nearly a hundred years old, their ages aggregating eight hundred and seventy-six years! Their mother died at the age of one hundred years.

The father of William M. was James Wilson, who was born in Nova Scotia, was a farmer, owning a considerable amount of land, married Elizabeth Staples' and had thirteen children. All the sons engaged in agricultural pursuits for their life's calling. He departed this life in the year 1888, at the age of ninety-five years, in Nova Scotia. His children were: John, born July 5, 1816; Rachel, June 25, 1818; William M., March 16, 1820 (our subject); Robert, November 20, 1822; Easter, February 3, 1824; Jane S., October 6, 1825; Matthew, September 17, 1827; Mary C, June 5, 1830; Jervis, August 21, 1832; David, April 24, 1835; James, May 11, 1837; Sidney, October 13, 1839; and Junius R., January 18, 1840. The youngest died at the age of eleven years, but all the rest grew up to years of maturity. Their mother died at the age of seventy-four years.

Mr. William M. Wilson, the subject proper of this record, received his education in a private school, but being the eldest of the sons his work was of such a nature that he could not attend regularly. He remained an inmate of the parental home until he was twenty-one and a half years of age, when he left for the great metropolis, New York, with only sixty cents in money! There, among strangers, he was to seek his fortune and make his own way in the world. Learning the trade of carpenter, in which he soon became highly skilled, he followed that vocation for several years, when he began taking contracts for building and also engaged in speculating, buying lots and improving and selling them. Both in his contract work and his improvement of lots for sale he was signally successful, maintaining meanwhile the highest degree of credit and honor.

In 1884 he moved to Mount Vernon, which beautiful city has since been his place of residence, and here he has built a number of residences, including his own, he being his own architect. He has led a very active and busy life, but for the last fifteen years he has practically retired from the heavy duties and responsibilities of business. As a diversion he keeps a "spanking" team of trotters, his tastes leading him rather to out-door recreation.

In his views of national policies he is a Republican; and in his religious convictions he has been a decided and zealous member of the Baptist church ever since he was nine years of age, showing religious inclination even as early as the age of six. His piety is deep, his religious principles definite, positive and strong, and his church relations have ever been the most pleasant. He was a trustee of the Baptist church on Forty-second street, in New York city, and is now a trustee and deacon of the Mount Vernon Baptist church.

June 18, 1848, he was united in matrimony with Miss Sarah Maria Roff, and they have had five children, namely: Jane E., who died in childhood; Eunice, deceased; William F., who was a carpenter and builder, but at present is an inventor, residing in Mount Vernon; Ulysses S. Grant, a builder in Tuckahoe, this county, where he resides; and Schuyler Colfax, who died at the age of twenty-six years.

As a miscellaneous item we may mention that Mr. Wilson is related by blood to the Harper and the Cutten families, of Massachusetts, and the celebrated publishers of New York city, the Harper Brothers.