David Wilson was only nine years of age when he was taken to Missouri, and he was reared to manhood there and also in Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, and placer-mined on the south Yuba river and at Mount City for about three years, and then returned east by water to take care of his father, with whom he remained until the latter's death. The Civil war breaking out, he entered the Union army at Athens, Missouri, and served under Colonel Moore and participated in the battle of Athens, but, receiving a sunstroke, was honorably discharged. Once again he crossed the plains, this time to Nevada, in 1863, and located in Mason valley, where he had his choice of the land, being one of the first, to take it up. He chose two hundred and twenty acres, added to it, and at one time owned six hundred and forty acres, but has sold some, and now has three hundred and twenty acres. This land seemed well fitted for stock-raising, and he has largely devoted it to that purpose. His brother, William Wilson, came west, and the two operated a very valuable mine.

In 1855 he was married to Miss Abigail Butler, a native of Ohio, and they have had five children, three sons and two daughters, namely: Louisa married George Plummer and died in 1889; James William is a ranchman and flour mill operator in the valley; Joseph Isaac is also a ranchman and owner of a mill; George Washington resides near his father; Elizabeth Jane is at college. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were United Brethren, but, there being no church of that denomination in the valley, they united with the Methodist church. Mr. Wilson is a life-long Republican, and is one of the most highly esteemed men of his county.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904