William D. Wilson was born in Milan in 1839. His parents were of English and Irish descent, and emigrated as early as 1830. They settled in Versailles when Daily was two years old. He received his education in the public schools of Ripley County, and later took a course at the County Seminary. He made one trip to Iowa to assist his father in Engineering. While in Iowa he also studied law. In 1862 he married Miss Olive Huffater, whose father was a pioneer. He served as District Prosecutor one term, during the fall of 1864. In 1868 he was elected as Representative from Ripley County by the Republican party, and in 1872 made the race for Judge against Judge New, but was defeated. Mr. Wilson was the president of the Ripley County Bank and Proprietor of the Osgood flour, stave and saw-mills. He had the finest residence in the county. He, with his two brothers, Charley and Tom, owned nearly 2000 acres of land which was cultivated. He also dealt extensively in livestock and timber.