WILSON, David S.

WILSON, David S. (Steubenville, OH, Mar. 18, 1825-Dubuque, IA, Apr. 1, 1881). MAYOR. Wilson, the brother of Thomas S. WILSON, bought into the ownership of the Miners' Express in 1841. (1) He remained the newspaper's editor until 1845 when he sold his interest and resumed his study of law. (2) Elected to the Iowa House in 1846, Wilson took an active role in re-submitting Iowa's constitution to the people. During the Mexican War he shared responsibility for moving the entire tribe of Winnebago from their reservation at Fort Atkinson into Minnesota. (3)

Returning to Dubuque, Wilson was elected county attorney for two terms. (4) He invested in land, but the great fortune he accumulated was lost in the economic collapse of 1857. The same year he lost much of his wealth he was elected to a four year term in the Iowa Senate.

With the outbreak of the CIVIL WAR, Wilson became a "War Democrat," a supporter of the Union. When the loyalty of an Irish regiment being raised in Dubuque was questioned, Wilson left for Washington, D.C. to meet with an old friend Secretary of War Stanton. Wilson received Stanton's permission for the Irish regiment to join the Union army. Wilson was also asked to return to Iowa as a colonel to raise a cavalry regiment. Turning away from his profitable legal career Wilson accepted the commission and raised the Sixth Iowa Cavalry Regiment. This served in Dakota protecting settlers against the SIOUX. Disappointed that he was not able to serve in more action and frustrated by the little action, Wilson resigned his commission and returned to Dubuque in 1864.

served as mayor in 1856. During his first term along Main street cisterns holding 1,000 barrels each were built for fire protection. New market grounds were secured in January, 1856, at Iowa and Clay streets — the present city hall now stands on these lots.A private house was converted into a calaboose in April, 1856. In the fall of 1856 gas lighting was extended to the leading side streets. In 1857 a new city charter was demanded. During the winter of 1857-8 the newspapers were full of charges and counter-charges concerning crookedness in the assignment of city printing. An act of the Legislature, January, 1858, revised and consolidated the laws of Dubuque and established a city court, of which the chief officers were judge, clerk and marshal. In February, 1858, the new city hall at the corner of Thirteenth and Clay streets was occupied by the recorder, auditor, treasurer, board of education and engineer of the city.

Wilson was elected to a term of four years in the Iowa Senate. At this time, Wilson was nominated by his fellow legislators to deliver a lecture on "The Right of States to Secede from the Union." The lecture, considered the first of its kind, showed such depth of research that it was adopted as the war document of the state. The legislature printed and distributed thousands of copies.

When the CIVIL WAR began, Wilson led the “War Democrats” and spoke against secession. In 1862 he was commissioned colonel of the Sixth Cavalry which campaigned against the Sioux Indians involved in the Minnesota massacre.

In 1864 Colonel Wilson resigned his command, returned to Dubuque, and resumed his practice of law. In 1872 he was appointed circuit judge and soon after district judge. He served until 1878.

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Source:

1. "Dubuque Sought Business Methods From Beginning," Telegraph Herald, March 27, 1921, p. 14. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bi5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SmANAAAAIBAJ&pg=6644,4092622&dq=james+fanning+dubuque&hl=en

2. Hoffman, M. M. "The Wilsons of Dubuque," Des Moines: Annuals of Iowa, Vol.XXI No. 5, July 1938, p. 323

3. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa.Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, p. 899-900

4. Hoffman, p. 329