Thomas Benton Wilson was born in Tennessee and came to Collin County with his parents in 1849. He had only the meager education obtained in the rural schools but he had great natural ability, so with application he became proficient in mathematics and surveying. In 1861 he joined the Confederate Army but was later given a medical discharge. He and two of his brothers then engaged in farming, stock raising, and freighting. In 1869 he was a deputy sheriff under his brother George. In 1870 Governor E.J. Davis appointed him county surveyor of Collin County, to which position he was later elected five times, serving until 1882.
Always a good businessman, he was one of the organizers of a private bank which is now the Collin County National Bank. He served as a director from the time of its organization until his death. In 1908 he owned 5,000 acres of land and offered the state of Texas 460 acres as a site for an A&M College, but this state school was located in Lubbock.
On Dec. 4, 1883, he married Henrietta Estes. A son, Add G. Wilson is a former city commissioner of McKinney, a former president of the Central State Bank.

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T. B. WILSON
Funeral Service ...Conducted at His Home - Body Lowered to Rest in Pecan Grove Cemetery. The funeral service of T. B. Wilson was conducted at his late home just North of
McKinney Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the presence of a large number of people who came from far and near. His sister, Mrs. Bettie Emberson of Pilot Point, his brother, A. M. Wilson and all the members of his immediate family
were present together with many other relatives. His aged sister, Mrs. Martha Wallis, having become prostrated had to return to her home near Wallis Chapel, hence could not be at the funeral. The floral offerings were beautiful. A pretty design with the word "Papa" on it was noticeable, another "Gates Ajar" design with the words "At Rest," and a broken wheel and others were strikingly beautiful.

Rev. C. C. Young, pastor of the First Methodist church, read scriptural selections and delivered a brief talk. He was followed by a reminiscent address by Eld. John McKinney, a life-long friend. The funeral march to Pecan Grove was a very impressive one. It was one of the longest funeral corteges witnessed here in many years. Following is a list of the pall bearers: Active: S. H. Cole, Dr. S. H. Abbott, Judge T. C. Andrews, R. J. Straughan, J. S. Heard and J. H. Ferguson. Honorary: Judge T. C. Goodner, Dr. T. W. Wiley, Ben Estes, Dr. O. H. Kirkpatrick, J. P. A. Wallace, Hon. e. W. Kirkpatrick, F. C. Thompson, J. W.
Field, J. W. Ashley, Judge L. C. Clifton, Hon. J. L. Doggett, John Lovejoy, and J. L. Franklin..[The McKinney Examiner, McKinney, Texas, Sept. 11, 1913.]
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WILSON, THOMAS B.
There passed away at his beautiful home, a short distance north of McKinney, on September 3, 1913, one of the best beloved of Collin County. Thomas B. Wilson had lived in north Texas since boyhood and since pioneer Arial, had fought with the Confederate troops in the great war, spent his business career as a farmer and stock raiser, acquired a generous prosperity and used his ample means in many ways to promote the happiness of others and to develop the resources of his community. His life was extended beyond the time of three score and ten, was filled with kindly deeds and energetic accomplishments in everything he undertook and it was in the spirit of sincere affection and esteem that so many hundreds of his old friends and neighbors gathered to pay their last tribute to his memory at the time of his death. (A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914