BIO: Col. William Potter WILSON, Centre County, Pennsylvania

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 76-77

COL. WILLIAM POTTER WILSON, who in his lifetime was a resident of Bellefonte, 
where his death occurred August 3, 1878, descended from ancestors of prominence 
and distinction in the history of the State. His parents were Samuel Hunter and 
Mary (Benner) Wilson, the father being a son of Capt. William Wilson, and the 
mother a daughter of Gen. Philip Benner.  
  Capt. William Wilson was an officer of the First Regiment Pennsylvania 
Continental Line, and was a member of the Society of Cincinnati, his certificate 
of membership being dated at Mount Vernon October 31, 1785, and signed by Gen. 
Washington, as President of the Society, and by Gen. Henry Knox, as Secretary. 
Gen. Benner served in the Revolutionary war, and his father, an active Whig 
during the war, was captured and imprisoned. After the close of the struggle in 
1792, he purchased what was called Rock Forge lands, and removed to Spring Creek 
to engage in the iron business, and from that time on until his death, in 1832, 
he was prominently identified with that business and the business interests of 
Centre County. He was an earnest Democrat, and was twice Presidential elector, 
notably on the Jackson and Calhoun ticket in 1824.
  William Potter Wilson was born at Rock Forge, Centre County, Penn., December 
5, 1825.  His preparatory studies were received at Bellefonte Academy, and his 
college course at Dartmouth College, where he graduated in June 1847. His legal 
studies were pursued at McCartney's Law School, at Easton, and in the office and 
under the direction of the late Hon. James Burnside, before he occupied the 
Bench.  He was admitted to the Bar at the August term of 1849, and continuously 
practiced his profession with great fidelity to the interests intrusted to his 
care up to the time of his death. He was an entire stranger to the tricks of the 
profession, and heartily despised them; was the soul of honor in his 
professional intercourse with his brothers of the Bar, and left a record of 
honorable practice which will be remembered by all who were associated with him 
as colleagues, or engaged against him as adversaries. He was appointed an aide 
upon the military staff of Gov. Bigler during his administration, which entitled 
him to the rank and gave him the title of "Colonel". He was a candidate for 
district attorney of his county in 1856, and for the State Senate in the double 
district composed of the counties of Blair, Centre, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata 
and Perry in 1870. He was appointed chairman of the Republican State Central 
Committee, and conducted the campaign of 1877, and it may be truthfully said 
that the earnest efforts to discharge faithfully the duties of his honorable 
position tended largely to hasten the end of his earthly career, having been 
undertaken at a time when an enfeebled constitution required quiet and rest 
rather than excitement and efforts of a political campaign. He was decided in 
his political convictions, but never offensive in their utterance or 
enforcement. As a citizen his place was worthily filled. He exercised a great 
influence in municipal affairs, having occupied a seat for many years, and the 
place of presiding officer, in the borough council and school board.  As a 
businessman outside the walks of his profession, he was successful in an unusual 
degree.  The railroad, turnpike and other semi-public interests of this region 
have contributed in a large part to this success, and have in turn been made to 
feel in their management, the influence of his judicious and conservative 
business views. He was at the time of his death secretary and treas-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 77

urer of the Bald Eagle Valley Railroad Company, and treasurer and almost sole 
manager of the Centre and Kishocoquillas Turnpike Road Company.
  The personal and relative duties of life were faithfully discharged by him in 
his sphere, and whilst we would not invade the sanctity of home and family, it 
is proper to say that where the duties which those relations involve were 
performed his death will be keenly felt. Of great kindness of heart, his 
affections embraced and led him to cherish and maintain those who were strangers 
to his blood but brought within his sphere of home life. He was a Christian man; 
quietly and unobtrusively he discharged his Christian duties and came down to 
the end of his life "unstained and soothed by an unfaltering trust." One of his 
great anxieties of his last year on earth was the welfare of the Church with 
which he was connected, and of which he was a trustee.
  On October 21, 1856, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Margaret H. 
daughter of Rev. James and Isabella (Henderson) Linn, of Bellefonte, where Mrs. 
Wilson was born. They had no children of their own, but raised as their daughter 
Blanche Moran Hays, a cousin of Mrs. Wilson's. Both Mrs. Wilson and Miss Hays 
reside in a beautiful and comfortable home at Bellefonte. They are identified 
with the Presbyterian Church, and are active in its auxiliary societies. Mrs. 
Wilson's name has for years been associated with much good work done by the 
women of Bellefonte in charitable directions, and for the elevation of the 
morals of the community.
  REV. JAMES LINN, D. D., who died at Bellefonte, February 23, 1868, was a 
remarkable man, and enjoyed the rare distinction of having served the pastorate 
of the Presbyterian Church there the unusually long period of fifty-eight years. 
He was born in Sherman's Valley (now Perry County), Penn., September 4, 1753.
   His grandfather came over from Scotland in the early part of the eighteenth 
century, and was of solid Presbyterian stock. His father, John Linn, was born in 
Adams County, Penn., in 1749, was graduated at Princeton College in 1773; 
studied theology with Rev. Robert Cooper, and during his entire ministerial 
life, including a term of nearly forty-four years, was settled as the pastor of 
Centre Church, Sherman's Valley. He died in 1820 in his seventy-first year. He 
was married to Mary Gettys, daughter of the founder of Gettysburg.
   Dr. James Linn was graduated at Dickinson College in 1805, and studied 
theology with Rev. Joseph Williams at Newville. He was licensed to preach the 
Gospel September 27, 1808, by the Presbytery of Carlisle. He himself considered 
it an honor of no small measure to have been licensed by such a body of 
ministers as then composed that Presbytery: (I A noble band of venerable men, 
and men of talents." In the spring of 1809 he visited the congregations of 
Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley, since in the bounds of Huntingdon Presbytery, 
and from there he shortly after came to Bellefonte. The Presbyterian Church here 
had just been left vacant by the removal of Rev. Henry R. Wilson, to Carlisle. 
His preaching here and at Lick Run for a few Sabbaths resulted in unanimous 
calls from both Churches, each for one-half of his time.  On April 17, 1810, he 
was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bellefonte, the installation 
taking place in the court house, which was then used as the place of worship. 
His time was divided between charges at Lick Run and Bellefonte. In 1839 the 
Bellefonte Church received his undivided labors, and as the pastor of this 
Church he remained until his death. His labors among the people were greatly 
blessed.  He took an active interest in the cause of education, in the early 
years of his ministry taught the Bellefonte Academy, and was for many years 
president of the board of trustees. His labors in the temperance cause and in 
the interests of the Bible Society and Sabbath-schools were incessant all 
through the long years of his active life. He was eminently hospitable, and his 
generosity spontaneous and unpretending. There is a sublime eloquence in the 
career of such a man, and the reputation he won he bequeathed to enhance the 
dignity, honor and usefulness of his fellow laborers in the ministry. His strong 
individuality, clear mind, and sound judgment commanded the respect of men of 
character, while his large-hearted hospitality, his genial humor, and his kind 
and cheerful disposition won upon all classes of the community, and made him a 
man of the largest influence. Yet, though gentle, yielding and forgiving in his 
temper almost to an extreme, his decision was uncompromising in all questions of 
principle. His preaching was characterized by the pointed and impressive 
presentation of truth, and was doctrinal and practical rather than rhetorical. 
With a full, round voice, and a commanding presence, his personal advantages 
were more than ordinary. His manuscript sermons show thoroughness and accuracy 
in preparation for the pulpit.
   Dr. Linn was twice married: First to Jane Harris, February 28, 1811, and 
their children were: Claudius B., James H., Hon. Samuel, 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 78

Anna and Jane. This wife died August 14, 1822, and on April 15, 1829, he married 
Isabella Henderson, and a daughter, Margaret H., was born to them. 
   COL. PHILIP BENNER WILSON, a brother of William Potter Wilson, and a resident 
of Bellefonte, where he died March 2, 1878, served with distinction in the Civil 
war. He was born at Chillisquaque Mills, Northumberland Co., Penn., December 8, 
1822, and received his education at Milton. He entered the army in 1861 at 
Harrisburg, Penn., as captain of Company F, 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was 
later promoted to the majorship of the regiment. At the close of the war he 
returned to Bellefonte and entered the hardware business with John Irwin, Jr., 
the firm soon establishing a large trade and erecting a beautiful building. 
Later Mr. Irwin retired, and Col. Wilson associated with him in the business 
Thomas Hicks, the firm becoming Wilson & Hicks. The Colonel finally retired from 
the firm, and in connection with Col. McFarlane established another hardware 
store in the Humes block. At the time of his death he was the colonel of the 5th 
Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania.