Edward H. Wilson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1324-1325 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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EDWARD H. WILSON, who is engaged in the practice of law in Salem, 
McCook county, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of 
April, 1857, a son of Evan C. and Leah (Crawford) Wilson, of whose five 
children four are living. Evan Wilson was likewise born in Lycoming 
county, where his father located upon coming to America from the north 
of Ireland, where he was born. Evan Wilson was reared to farm life and 
continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, 
having become one of the prosperous and influential citizens of Lycoming 
county, where he died in 1866, at the age of forty-nine years. He was a 
Republican in politics and both he and his wife held membership in the 
Christian church. Mrs. Wilson was summoned into eternal rest in 1874, at 
the age of fifty-six years. 

Edward H. Wilson was about nine years of age at the time of his 
father's death, and from that time forward he became largely dependent 
upon his own resources. His determination and self-reliance stood him 
well in hand while he was still a lad, and he secured a good common-
school education, after which he entered Mount Union College, at 
Alliance, Ohio, where he completed the philosophical course and was 
graduated as a member of the class of 1880, having paid his expenses by 
teaching during the vacations and also having followed his vocation in 
securing the money with which to initiate his collegiate work. The 
executor of his father's estate became a bankrupt and thus he received 
nothing by inheritance. After completing his college course, Mr. Wilson 
went to Canton, South Dakota, and there entered the law office of O. S. 
Gifford, under whose direction he prosecuted his study of the law with 
such assiduity that he secured admission to the bar in 1882. In the 
spring of the following year he came to Salem, South Dakota, where he 
served his novitiate in the practical work of his profession and where 
he has attained distinctive prestige through his well-directed efforts, 
being known as an able advocate and safe and conservative counsel. Mr. 
Wilson is an uncompromising Republican, and for the past fourteen years 
has served in the exacting and responsible office of state's attorney of 
this district, in which position he has made an enviable record as a 
public prosecutor. He is a member of Fortitude Lodge, No. 34, Free and 
Accepted Masons; of Salem Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons; 
Constantine Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar, at Salem; Oriental 
Consistory, No. 1, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Yankton; and El 
Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at 
Sioux Falls. He is also affiliated with Salem Lodge, No. 10, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows; Lodge No. 28, Ancient Order of United Workmen; and 
Salem Tent, No. 12, Knights of the Maccabees. He has taken a deep 
interest in all that concerns the development and material prosperity of 
South Dakota, and was one of the first to become identified with the 
State Historical Society. He is not formally identified with any 
religious body, but Mrs. Wilson holds membership in the Presbyterian 
church. 

On the 29th of January, 1885, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to 
Miss Etta L. Young, of Morganville, New York, and they are the parents 
of two children, Leon P. and Laverne E., I both of whom remain at the 
parental home.