Wilson Nevyus was born on June 11, 1838, in Pulteney, New York, to William and Jane Nevyus. His father was a farmer who owned $2,500 of real estate and $700 of personal property by 1860. The family lived in Pulteney, and by 1860, Nevyus was working as a farm laborer.
He enlisted in the Union army on August 22, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company A of the 161st New York Infantry on September 18. The regiment took part in the siege of Port Hudson, the Second Battle of Sabine Pass, the Red River campaign, and the Mobile campaign. He mustered out on September 20, 1865.
Nevyus returned to Pulteney after the war, and he married Louisa Austin in May 1870. They had at least three children: Louisa, born around 1872; Mattie, born around 1874; and Andrew, born around 1878. He worked as a farmer, and by 1870, he owned $4,000 of real estate and $500 of personal property. He applied for a federal pension in July 1890 and eventually secured one. He died in Pulteney on May 1, 1901.