Born in April 1808, in Madison County, New York,[1][2] Willson graduated from Hamilton College in 1832 and read law,[2] first in the office of Jared Willson of Canandaigua, New York, then in the office of Francis Scott Key in Washington, D.C.[1] After moving to Painesville, Ohio in 1833,[1] he was admitted to the bar and entered private practice with Henry B. Payne[1] in Cleveland, Ohio from 1834 to 1855.

[1] In 1854, the Cleveland Bar Association sent Willson to lobby Congress to divide the state of Ohio into two Federal Judicial Districts.

[1] Willson was nominated by President Franklin Pierce on February 10, 1855, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, to a new seat authorized by 10 Stat. 604.

[2] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 20, 1855, and received his commission the same day.

[2] His service terminated on November 11, 1866,[2] due to his death of consumption (tuberculosis)[1] in Cleveland.