Born near
Lebanon, Ohio, Wilson completed preparatory studies. He studied
law. He was
admitted to the bar and practiced. He moved to Indiana and settled in Connersville and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the court of common pleas of
Fayette County, Indiana, from 1860 to 1865. Wilson was elected judge of the circuit court in October 1865 and served until his election to Congress.
Congress Wilson was elected as a
Republican to the
Forty-second and
Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875). While in Congress, Wilson was chairman of the special committee of the House of Representatives to investigate the
District of Columbia board of public works. This investigation was held in 1874 and lasted four months. During its progress, Wilson often acted more as a prosecutor than a committee chairman. In the end, the committee's finding resulted in changed the form of the District of Columbia's government from that of a territory to one under control of three commissioners. Prior to his death, Wilson's law partners were his son, Charles S. Wilson, and
Adolph A. Hoehling, Jr. During his long practice of the law, Wilson was connected with many famous cases, gaining reputation as a criminal lawyer. One of his most famous cases involved serving as counsel for
Henry W. Howgate when he was tried in 1894. That same year, he successfully prosecuted congressman
W. C. P. Breckinridge for Breach of Promise for failing to honor his pledge to marry his client, Madeleine V. Pollard. At the time of his death, Wilson was president of the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, a director in the National Fidelity and Deposit Company and also of other corporations of the District. He was a member of the
Metropolitan Club and of the
District of Columbia Bar.
Death Wilson died on September 24, 1901, and was interred next to his wife in
Rock Creek Cemetery. ==Family==