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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM S. WILSON, Superintendent of the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad, with headquarters at Pinckneyville, was born in Brandenburg, Ky., in October, 1852. His father, who also bore the name of William S. Wilson, was a farmer by occupation, and died when his son was only four years of age. After that time our subject lived with his grandfather, William Farleigh, until he was a youth of fifteen. He had attended the common schools of the neighborhood, and at that time entered a school in Owensboro, Ky., where he remained for eight months.

Entering the telegraph office in Owensboro as messenger boy, Mr. Wilson soon learned the art of telegraphy. He then accepted the position of commercial telegraph operator, and in that capacity was employed in various places until the summer of 1870, when he went to work for the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company as night operator in Danville, Ind. In November of the same year, he secured a position with the road with which he is now connected, being made station agent and operator at Freeburg, Ill. From that time his advancement has been continual.

After a few months spent as agent in Freeburg, Mr. Wilson was called to St. Louis to take a place in the general freight office, where he continued until he had filled every position in that office. His duties then called him to the auditor’s office and to the office of the general superintendent. While in the former position he was paymaster of the road, and subsequently he acted as train dispatcher for a short time. Next he was made conductor on a passenger train between St. Louis and Du Quoin, and a short time afterward became private secretary to the President and General Manager of the road, in which position he served for five years. In 1883 he was made Master of Transportation, and in January, 1886, was promoted to the position of Superintendent. In 1890 his offices were removed to Pinckneyville. Mr. Wilson was married in Owensboro, Ky., to Miss Belle, daughter of Col. Mercer Moormann, a prominent merchant, who was a soldier in the southern army. They have two children, Sarah Deane, a maiden of fifteen years, and George Parker, aged ten. Their home is also shared by the widowed mother of Mr. Wilson.

It will be seen from the foregoing account that Mr. Wilson has served in all the various capacities of the road, from that of messenger boy up to his present responsible position. There is no place on the road that he cannot fill, for actual experience has made him familiar with all its duties. No more thorough or obliging man is to be found with any road. He has earned his promotion by hard work and close attention to business, and his success is certainly well merited. Since Pinckneyville was made his headquarters, he has taken a great interest in the town, and has done much to give it new life. One gentleman said that, “Since Mr. Wilson came here Pinckneyville has grown more than it had in forty years before.” He has built the finest residence in the city, which stands on a two-acre tract of land. He is now serving as Alderman. He is a member of the Board of Education and is President of the building and loan association, and is ever found on the side of advancement and progress, ready to aid in the promotion of all that pertains to the general welfare.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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