COMPENDIUMOF BIOGRAPHY OfHenry County, Indiana B.F.Bowen 1920 Page334 and 335 Surnamesin this biography are: Wilson, Nugent, Reeves, Trueblood, Allen, Mills, Long                                                        RALPH WILSON, M. D.           Although a young man, the subject of this biography has attained distinction as a     physician and surgeon that entitleshim to a conspicuous place among the successful   men of his profession in the county of Henry. He is a native of Hancock County, this state, and the son of David and Zerelda (Nugent) Wilson, the father born in Virginia and the mother in the state of Illinois.The Wilson family came to Indiana about the year 1862, settling on a farm near the village of Warrington where David Wilson lived the remainder of his life.He became a prosperous farmer and for a number of years was one of the leading citizens of his community, taking an active part in public affairs and using his influence for the up building of his township and county, materially and otherwise. Mrs. Zerelda Wilson was brought to Fayette County, Indiana; by her parents when young and lived they're until her marriage, which was solemnized in the year 1857. She bore her husband the following children, Arthur, attorneyat law and loan agent of Indianapolis; Rhoda, wife of Dallis Reeves, aprominent farmer of Hancock county; Wilborn, who practices law in Indianapolis; Ralph, of this review, and Minerva A., deceased. Dr. Wilson's birth occurred on the 13th day of March 1870, and his childhood and youth were spent on the home farm in the county of Hancock. >From a very early age he manifested a studious disposition and as a pupil in the common schools made commendable progress, completing the full course and graduating in the year 1888.  Successfully passing the examination and securing a teacher's license, he engaged in educational work and was thus employed for a period of four years in the common schools of his own county.When but a lad the Doctor decided to become a physician and it was with this object in view that he taught school, expecting to prosecute his professional studies. As soon as he could properly adjust his affairs he entered the office of Dr. Robert W. Long, where he pursued a course of preliminary reading duringa part of 1892 and 1893 and in the latter year became a student of the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis. Dr. Wilson entered thisinstitution with but limited means and was obliged to exercise the most rigide conomy in order to complete his professional course. He made an honorable record as a student, won seven of the fourteen prizes for meritorious work and was graduated the first in his class in the' year of. 1896. On receiving his degree he took a civil service competitive examination for an appointment andsuch was the excellency of his record that he was given 'the post of head physician in the Indianapolis City Dispensary; a position of high honor,affording him a wide and varied professional experience. The Doctor discharged the duties of this place from May 1, 1896, to May 1 of the following year and then located at the town of Shirley where he has since built up a large and lucrative practice.  Dr. Wilson's wife was formerly Miss Victoria B. Trueblood, a native of Madison County, Indiana,and daughter of Warner M. and Narcissa (Allen) Trueblood, born respectively in Washington and Henry Counties, this state. Warner M. Trueblood was a successful merchant of Salem and died in 1872, his companion departing this life two years later. Mrs. Wilson was left an orphan at the age of three years and from that time until twelve years old lived among her relations. She was then taken into the family of Abel and Elizabeth Mills, prominent members of the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends, Putnam County, Illinois, and lived with them until a short time previous to her marriage. She belongs to the same religious body, holding membership at this time with the Spring Valley church, Madison County, Indiana. Dr. Wilson is identified with the Knights of Pythias,Independent Order of Red Men and Odd Fellows fraternities, in all of which hetakes an active interest. In politics he is a Democrat, hut has little time todevote to public or political affairs, the demands for his professional services being such as to preclude any outside consideration. For some time past he has been medical examiner for the Fidelity Mutual Life InsuranceCompany, also holds similar positions with the American Central Life InsuranceCompany of Indianapolis, the Union Central of Cincinnati, the United States of New York, the Prudential and the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of the organization last named. As a physician he has already won high encomiumsfrom his professional brethren. His career as a successful healer havingbrought him prominently to the notice of the leading men of the county as well as winning for him the confidence and respect of a large number of patients in the town of his residence and country adjacent there to. He is a close and critical student and his large perceptive faculties enable him readily to apply his theoretical knowledge to the treatment of the various diseases with which humanity is afflicted. Keeping in close touch with the advanced thought of his profession and sparing no pains in his investigations in the realm of medical science, there is no doubt that his future will be marked by many years of continued success and usefulness.