William P. Wilson, 1800-1873

 

William P. Wilson was born in Delaware about 1800 and died at Wheeling in 1873. He was active as a citizen and civic officer of Wheeling beginning in 1822 when he moved here.  After a short time he learned carpentry with George Vennum and engaged in contracting and building until 1852 when he entered the boat building business under McLure, Dunlevy & Co. 

 

Wilson served for a considerable period on the city council and also as one of the board of supervisors or commissioners of the county. He was a member of Ohio Lodge, No. 1, F. & A.M., of Wheeling commandery and was treasurer of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia from its organization until his death in 1873.  He married Sarah Pannell on November 10, 1832.  They had seven children. Wilson voted for the Ordinance of Succession, earning him a place on the infamous “Traitors of Wheeling” broadside.

 

One of his sons, George P. Wilson, was a Sergeant and a member of the Shriver Grays Company “G” 27th Virginia Infantry C.S.A. He enlisted on May 17, 1861 at age 27 and was killed at Manassas on July 21, 1861. 

In 1873, William P. Wilson died of cholera; his wife died of the same disease the day after. His partner, W. H. Dunlevy died 6 months later, and the business passed to their sons, W. A. Wilson and H. H. Dunlevy, who stopped producing boats and focused solely on the manufacture of nail kegs until 1887.