Biographies of Runnel County, Texas

Runnels County Biographies

DR. JOHN SYDENHAM WILSON. —This gentleman has every reason to be proud of the stock from which he sprung, for in the progress and development of this country his ancestors have ever taken a prominent part, and have been loyal and law-abiding citizens. The early members of his family, both on the father's and mother's side, were participants in the early Indian wars, the war of the Revolution and the war of 1812, from which it may be inferred that they settled on American soil during the Colonial period. One of the great-great-grandfathers was with General Putnam at Stony Point, and another was taken prisoner by the British and was for seven years confined in a dungeon in Great Britain. William Wilson, the grandfather of Dr. Wilson, was of Scotch descent, and was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1785. He was married to a Miss Becraft, in whose veins flowed sturdy English blood, and their son, Nathaniel Chapman Wilson, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, March 15, 1817, in the vicinity of Hagerstown.
Upon attaining a suitable age he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and graduated at that institution. He now makes his home in Houston, Texas, with the subject of this sketch, and has been a successful practicing physician since 1848. His wife, whose maiden name was Christiana Deal, was born in 1820, and also resides in Houston. She is a daughter of George and Mary (Morgart) Deal, who were born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1788, and February, 1791, respectively; but during the early history of this country her ancestors were residents of the State of New Jersey. They were of German extraction, and they inherited many of the most worthy qualities of that race, which made them valuable American citizens.
Dr. John Sydenham Wilson was the youngest of the three children in the family to which he belonged, the other members of the family being George William, who is a resident of Content, Runnels county, Texas, and Mary C., who is the widow of Captain P. J. Oakes, and is a resident of Columbus, Texas. At the age of six months Dr. J. S. Wilson was taken by his parents to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after one year spent in that city they moved to Richmond, Indiana, and in 1859 to Kearney county, Texas. After spending two years at this point they took up their residence in Columbus, Texas, and during this time Dr. Wilson was given the advantages of the common schools in the different localities in which they resided, and obtained a comprehensive knowledge of Latin and Greek. Up to the 24th of May, 1868, he lived in Columbus, Texas, then went to Kansas City, Missouri, and eventually graduated at the high school of that city, after which he served a four-years apprenticeship at the drug business, and at the same time studied medicine, under the able instruction of his father, for some three years.
In 1874 he graduated in medicine, but his health becoming very much impaired, he, at the age of twenty-five years, went to the western frontier of Texas to engage in the stock business, making a specialty of sheep, thinking to benefit his health by life in the open air, and in this he was not disappointed, for his bodily health improved very much, but in the accumulation of worldly wealth he was not so successful, and he discontinued this work after a few years. He then practiced his profession for a short time, but this life did not at all agree with him, and he forsook the practice to engage in the drug business in Houston, in June, 1884, and has found this occupation both congenial and profitable. His place of business is located at 2219 Congress avenue, and he carries a very extensive stock of drugs, chemicals, elixirs, extracts, perfumes, druggist's specialties, toilet articles, etc., all of the highest grade, and makes a specialty of his prescription department, which is one of the finest in the city, and has called forth the hearty endorsement of the leading physicians of Harris county. His business policy has always been one of strict integrity, is loyal to his promises at all times, and is readily recognized as one of Houston's most successful and representative business men. He is also popular in the social circles of the city, and is an enthusiastic Mason, having taken all the degrees in the Ancient York rite, up to and including that of Knights Templar, and has also taken the thirty-second degree in the Scottish rite. He is at present Worshipful Master of Gray Lodge, No. 329, of the F. & A. M.; is High Priest of Washington Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M ; Captain General of Ruthven Commandery, No. 2; is Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Texas, and in 1893 was Grand Tyler. November 8, 1881, Dr. Wilson led to the altar Miss Mary F. Kelly, of Kearney county, Texas, a daughter of Riley and Mary A. Kelly, and to their union three children have been given, Roy D. being the only survivor.
[Source: History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston : containing a concise history of the state, with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1895, [submitted by K. Torp]