He was of Scottish and Irish ancestry.
He came to Winona, Minnesota in fall 1855, or spring 1856. He moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in fall 1857.
"As before remarked, Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, not only from education but principle, and never has lacked the courage of his convictions in advocating Democratic principles." (Isaac Atwater. "Honorable Eugene Wilson," Magazine of Western History, August, 1888).
His party affiliation was also provided by the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, and Minnesota and Its People, Volume 1, p. 289.
He ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the United States Congress in 1874.
He ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic party endorsed candidate for Minnesota Governor in the 1888 election.
"For several generations the family has been prominent in public affairs in Virginia. His father, Edgar C. Wilson, was a representative in congress from Virginia from 1833 to 1835. His grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was a representative from Virginia from 1833 to 1813 [sic]. Soon after the organization of the government his great grandfather, on his mother's side, William Griffin, represented in congress a district comprising the western part of Pennsylvania." (Atwater, Isaac, "Honorable Eugene Wilson, Magazine of Western History, August 1888.)
He died in Nassau, New Providence Island, British West Indies (Bahama Islands). He traveled there in an effort to regain his health. He was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.