BIO: Thomas Lowe WILSON, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 335.
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  WILSON, THOMAS LOW, the son of Thomas Wilson and Lydia Oakford, was 
born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 26, 1800.  He learned the art of 
printing with his father, who was a prominent craftsman in his day.  In 
1811 his parents removed to Baltimore, where in the defense of that 
city both father and son enlisted as privates in Capt. James McConkey's 
company, Twenty-seventh Maryland regiment.  In 1816 the family returned 
to Philadelphia, where both Wilsons worked on Mr. Duane's Aurora.  
Subsequently the son went to Washington City to work on the National 
Intelligencer.  In 1828 he published the Intelligencer, Petersburg, 
Va., where in connection he printed the Lynchburg Democrat in 1837.  In 
1838, on the recommendation of the veteran editor, Ritchie, he came to 
Harrisburg as editor of the Reporter, to combat the errors of the Anti-
Masonic party.  Upon the return of the Democracy to power Mr. Wilson 
was chosen secretary to the board of canal commissioners, a position he 
occupied almost uninterruptedly until the abolishment of the canal 
department in 1859.  He served during this period one year as collector 
of tolls at Middletown and one year as deputy secretary of the 
Commonwealth at the close of Governor Porter's administration.  He died 
at Harrisburg, February 28, 1861.  Mr. Wilson married, May 6, 1824, 
Juliana Margaretta Bender, of Washington City.  A gentleman prominent 
in public affairs thus summarizes the character of Mr. Wilson:  "He was 
an honest man, one of that stern, inflexible, and unbending old school 
integrity, which made him die a poor man rather than become a party to 
unholy plunder from the coffers of the Commonwealth."