James W. Wilson (1851-1930)

WILSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/1/2022 at 23:55:31

James W. Wilson
(December 31, 1851 – September 6, 1930)

James W. Wilson has since 1890 been a representative of the business interests of Lake City, where he is engaged in dealing in grain, live stock and coal. He is prospering in his work, for a liberal patronage has been accorded him, and in the conduct of his affairs he displays the enterprising spirit so characteristic of the west. He was born December 31, 1851, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a son of John and Elizabeth (McPherson) Wilson, both of whom were natives of Scotland, in which country they were reared, educated and married, crossing the Atlantic to the new world in 1848. They located in Canada and the father became quartermaster in the Seventh Highlanders, being stationed at Quebec, Canada, where his death occurred in September, 1851, a few weeks before the birth of our subject. The mother then removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She died in 1898, and one of her two children, the brother of our subject, passed away in 1886.
Mr. Wilson, of this review, spent the days of his early boyhood and youth in his native city, and in Portage City, Wisconsin, and there entered the public schools and continued his education until he had acquired a good knowledge of the English language to serve as a foundation for his business career. At the age of eighteen he removed to Webster City, Iowa, where he was engaged in general merchandising, and in 1879 he accompanied his brother to Lehigh, Iowa, where they engaged in the milling business and also dealt in grain and live
stock. After five years, however, they sold out in 1884, going to Dayton, where our subject continued in the same line of business. In 1887 he became a resident of Vail, this state, and in 1890 arrived in Lake City, still continuing in the livestock and grain business. He is also dealing in coal here and in each department he is meeting with success. He also buys grain at Sherwood and his business furnishes an excellent market for the farmers of this locality. He annually buys and ships large quantities of grain and many head of stock and is also doing a large business in the distribution of coal.
On the 11th of December, 1881, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss
Viola A. Scott, a daughter of E. A. Scott, of Dayton, Iowa. They have a pleasant home here and their circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintances, while their own hospitality renders the Wilson household a favorite resort with all who know them. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.281]