Background
Wilson was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, the son of James Wilson, a United States. Representative, and his wife, Emma (Ingersoll) Wilson, and was the elder brother of Henry Lane Wilson.
politician representative senator
Wilson was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, the son of James Wilson, a United States. Representative, and his wife, Emma (Ingersoll) Wilson, and was the elder brother of Henry Lane Wilson.
He attended the common schools and was a messenger during the American Civil War. Wilson graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville in 1874 and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1878.
He served in the United States. House of Representatives (1889–1895) and United States. Senate (1895–1899)
He commenced practice in Crawfordsville and in 1880 was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives. He was appointed by President Chester A. Arthur as receiver of public monies at Spokane Falls and Colfax in Washington Territory, serving in this position from 1882 to 1887. Upon the admission of Washington into the Union, Wilson was elected as a Republican in the 1888 elections to the House of Representatives as the representative from Washington"s at-large congressional district for the 51st United States Congress.
Wilson was re-elected in 1890 and 1892 to the 52nd and 53rd Congresses, serving from November 20, 1889, to February 18, 1895, when he resigned to become a Senator.
Wilson was elected as a Republican to the Senate on February 1, 1895, to fill the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1893, but did not assume his senatorial duties until February 19, 1895. He lost his bid for reelection to Addison G. Foster in 1898 and left office on March 4, 1899.
While in the Senate, Wilson was chairman of the Committee on Indian Depredations during the 54th and 55th Congresses. After leaving the Senate, Wilson published the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
He died in Washington, District of Columbia in 1912 and was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville.
Member Indiana; member 51st to 53d Congresses (1889-1895).