My Genealogy Hound

JAMES K. WILSON was born in Londonderry, Ireland, August 18, 1812, and arrived in Baltimore, Md., July, 1833. He located in Paris, Tenn., as book-keeper for Green & Crockett, with whom he remained three years. He married Geraldine H. Cooley, March 18, 1836. The same year he went into the drug business with his father, Dr. William Wilson, who arrived in America in 1834, and located at Paris, Tenn., and continued in business there until 1838; he then moved to Paducah, Ky., and was opening a drug store at the time of the big fire of said year, at which fire he lost everything he possessed, including a fine library. The next year (1839-40) he attended a medical school at Louisville, and in 1841 located in Missouri, where he practiced one year and then moved to Symsonia, Graves Co., Ky.; he remained there until 1857, and then moved to Benton, and in 1866 entered the drug business again; in 1870 he was burned out again, suffering a total loss. May 17, 1874, he died, leaving a wife and four children. He had practiced medicine from 1841 until his death. William J. Wilson, county clerk and son of James K. Wilson, was born in Graves County, June 29, 1843. At eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company G, Third Kentucky Infantry, and served three years. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg and Guntown, and was wounded at the last named place. Soon after the close of the war he went into the drug business with his father, remaining with him two years. There he was variously engaged in farming, carpentering and milling, and still retains a half interest in the Benton Mills. In August, 1881, he was elected county clerk for one year, and was immediately thereafter re-elected to a full term of four years. He was married September 7, 1866, to Josephine Eley of Benton. They have six children: Lloyd T., William W., James K., Robert C., Raleigh D. and Frank.