Joseph Lapsley Wilson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lapsley Wilson was an American railroad executive, author and horticulturalist. A Civil War
veteran, he wrote two histories of Philadelphia's First City Troop
.
Son of William Wilson, a merchant, he was educated at West Chester Academy in West Chester, Pennsylvania
. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army
, becoming a member of C Company Grays Reserves. He saw fire in July 1863 at Carlisle, Pennsylvania (north of Gettysburg). At discharge, he held the rank of sergeant.
Following the war, he became secretary of the Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company
, a division of the Reading Railroad, which transported anthracite from Northeastern Pennsylvania's coal region. He worked for the company for 38 years.
In 1867, he was elected to the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry
, the oldest continually-active military unit in the United States. Part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
, he served as the troop's captain, 1889-1894, and wrote its centennial history in 1875. Forty years later, he revised and updated the history: Book of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, 1774-1914 (1915).
He was a director of the Commercial Bank of Philadelphia, a member of the Union League of Philadelphia and of the National Republican League. He advocated for civil rights for Native Americans, and opposed American imperialism.
In the late 1870s, he bought land in Merion, Pennsylvania
, just over the Philadelphia city line. He built a mansion, "Red Slates", and turned the grounds into an arboretum, collecting more than 200 specimens of trees. In 1901, he married Caroline Alice Yates.
In 1922, he sold the estate to Dr. Albert C. Barnes
, and he and his wife moved to a smaller house on the property. Barnes demolished the mansion to build his Art Gallery, but preserved the arboretum. Wilson served as the arboretum's first director and as a Barnes Foundation trustee, until his death.
Some of Wilson's trees still survive at the Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran, he wrote two histories of Philadelphia's First City Troop
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry
thumb|right|300px|Captain [[Joseph Lapsley Wilson]] of the First City Troop circa 1894The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, also known as the First City Troop, is a unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.-History:...
.
Son of William Wilson, a merchant, he was educated at West Chester Academy in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
, becoming a member of C Company Grays Reserves. He saw fire in July 1863 at Carlisle, Pennsylvania (north of Gettysburg). At discharge, he held the rank of sergeant.
Following the war, he became secretary of the Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company
Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company
The Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company was a railway company in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania in the 19th century. The main line ran from Port Clinton to Tamanend, for a total of .-History:...
, a division of the Reading Railroad, which transported anthracite from Northeastern Pennsylvania's coal region. He worked for the company for 38 years.
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry
thumb|right|300px|Captain [[Joseph Lapsley Wilson]] of the First City Troop circa 1894The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, also known as the First City Troop, is a unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.-History:...
, the oldest continually-active military unit in the United States. Part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Pennsylvania Army National Guard
The Pennsylvania Army National Guard, abbreviated PAARNG, is part of the United States Army National Guard and is based in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
, he served as the troop's captain, 1889-1894, and wrote its centennial history in 1875. Forty years later, he revised and updated the history: Book of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, 1774-1914 (1915).
He was a director of the Commercial Bank of Philadelphia, a member of the Union League of Philadelphia and of the National Republican League. He advocated for civil rights for Native Americans, and opposed American imperialism.
In the late 1870s, he bought land in Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion Station is an unincorporated community in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is contiguous to Philadelphia and is also bordered by Wynnewood, Narberth, and Bala Cynwyd...
, just over the Philadelphia city line. He built a mansion, "Red Slates", and turned the grounds into an arboretum, collecting more than 200 specimens of trees. In 1901, he married Caroline Alice Yates.
In 1922, he sold the estate to Dr. Albert C. Barnes
Albert C. Barnes
Albert Coombs Barnes was an American chemist and art collector. With the fortune made from the development of the antiseptic, anti-blindness drug Argyrol, he founded the Barnes Foundation, an educational institution based on his private collection of art...
, and he and his wife moved to a smaller house on the property. Barnes demolished the mansion to build his Art Gallery, but preserved the arboretum. Wilson served as the arboretum's first director and as a Barnes Foundation trustee, until his death.
Some of Wilson's trees still survive at the Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation.