City: Obion
WILSON, William Mitchell, real estate dealer; born near Troy, Tenn., Oct. 21, 1828; Scotch-Irish descent; son of William Mitchell and Rebecca (WILSON) WILSON; father was planter and farmer; paternal grandparents James and Ruth (DAVIDSON) WILSON, maternal grandparents Thomas and Lucy (LAWSON) WILSON; educated in the local schools of Obion Co., Tenn.; began his career as clerk in dry goods store; was Union man in sentiment during Civil war, but did not take sides with either army, and supplied families of both Union and Confederate soldiers with provisions, clothing, etc., amounting to $25,000 or more without charge, also voluntarily advanced the price paid to farmers for seed cotton from 6 to 20 cents per pound, paying script for same, and on Dec. 19, 1864, when an interdiction of the shipping of cotton to the north took place he owed $36,000, which he could not pay, and his creditors voluntarily agreed to liquidate their claims one-half, which was declined and the full amount paid one year later; founded the town of Obion, Tenn., and secured the railroad station by ruse after it had been fixed elsewhere, and erected same at his own expense, paying all costs of procuring location of station at the place, amounting to about $6,000; served as Alderman of Obion in organization of town council; editor of “The Outlook,” a prohibition paper, which was printed and distributed free of charge in the interest of prohibition, 1890-1892; compiled history of Obion Co., Tenn., which has been partially published in local newspaper; married Nancy Ann CARUTHERS, May 24, 1853; member I. O. O. F., Noble Grand; Whig before 1861, now Independent Democrat; former postmaster at Troy, Tenn., 1862-1863.
Source: Who’s Who in Tennessee: A Biographical Reference Book of Notable Tennesseans of To-Day. Memphis: Paul & Douglas Co, 1911.
