My Genealogy Hound

WILSON SELDEN. The first settler of the Selden family in this country was William Selden, great-grandfather of Wilson Selden, the subject of this sketch. In the seventeenth century he was ordered by the King of England to Virginia, near Norfolk, to “preach the word of God” to the settlers in that section of country. He came to America and built a church with the aid of a few of the inhabitants, and preached the Episcopal faith to many. He was said to have been a man of fine personal appearance and commanding presence, and was held in high esteem in England as well as in this country. The church he built is still standing, having been preserved by his descendants. It is located at Hampton, Virginia, and is the oldest place of worship in that city.

Among the children of Rev. William Selden was William, Jr., (grandfather) who was born at Norfolk, Virginia, and educated there in the best schools of the day and by private tutors. He entered upon the study of medicine and became a very successful physician, following that avocation through life. He married Miss Charlotte Colgate, of Maryland, of the same family as the manufacturers of the Colgate soap. She was reputed to be a great beauty, and was a southern belle. The children of Dr. William and Charlotte Selden were: William, father of Wilson Selden, John, Robert, Henry, Susan and Mary A.

William Selden was educated in the neighborhood schools, and on completing the ordinary course entered upon the study of medicine, having the assistance of his father in his preparations for this vocation. In due time, he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, as a student, graduating from that institution with honors. He then went to Paris, where he remained six years, giving his attention to the different forms of surgery and medicine, and returned to Virginia, where he built up an extensive practice. He was a man of rare intelligence and the most thorough culture, and was beloved by the whole community. During the Civil war he was a surgeon in the Confederate army, and had charge of several hospitals, serving for four years. He then returned home, and remained in the practice of his profession until his death, in 1887, at the age of eighty years. He was a cousin of General Pickett, who gallantly led his division in the memorable charge at Gettysburg. William Selden married Miss Lucinda P. Wilson, (died December, 1902), daughter of Dr. Daniel Wilson, and a cousin of General Edward Johnston. Her father was a leading physician of Louisville, Kentucky, and lived to the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Selden had the following children: William, Henrietta, Julia, Charlotte, Mary, Caroline, Lucy, Louisa, and Wilson, the subject of this sketch, who was born at the old homestead at Norfolk, April 23, 1844.

Wilson Selden was educated in the schools of the vicinity and in the Virginia Military College, and was about to graduate from that institution when the Rebellion began with the firing on Fort Sumter. He enlisted in the Eighth Virginia Infantry Regiment of the Confederate army, and was appointed a sergeant. Later, his company was transferred to the artillery arm of the service, and in August, 1862, manned a battery captured from a Connecticut command. He participated in many of the engagements of that unhappy conflict, and greatly distinguished himself for courage and endurance. He was once severely wounded. He was at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. He was captured by the Union forces at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia, March 28, 1865, and was confined at the military prison at Point Lookout. On that occasion his horse was shot and killed under him, but he kept up the fight even after he was wounded in the leg. He was detained as a prisoner until the close of the war in 1865. On being released he went back to his old home in Virginia, which he still standing. He started a store, but as times had greatly changed he found that business was not very profitable. He decided to go west and “rough it” for a while, as the impaired condition of his health demanded outside work. He went at first to Mexico and later to Texas. In the northwest he lived the life of a cowboy, with the result that his health was greatly benefited. When he had recovered his health he returned to his old home in Virginia, where he married, in 1882, Miss Cynthia Browne, of an old and distinguished family in that state. He remained there engaged in farming until 1900, when he removed with his family to Limerick township, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He purchased a farm near Linfield, and has since devoted himself to farming and gardening. He is a man of very pleasing address, and delights in discussing war times with an ex-Union soldier. He is what he calls an Independent Republican. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and attends the Episcopal church, the faith of his fathers. He has many investments in the west, and is a director in two banks in the state of Virginia.