The Wilson Families of Berrien County, Michigan

HIRAM WILSON, engaged in raising fruit and asparagus at St. Joseph, was born in this city June 10, 1850. His father, Simeon C. Wilson, was a native of Canaan, New Hampshire born November 21, 181 8, and his boyhood and youth were passed in the old Granite state, where he acquired his education. Coming to Michigan at an early day he was married in St. Joseph on the twenty-third anniversary of his birth — in the year 1841 — to Miss Lydia C. Kingsley, who was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, February 17, 1822. About 1840, when eighteen years of age, she came to Berrien county with her parents, Barton and Lorane (Paul) Kingsley, who settled in St. Joseph. Within the year they passed away, there being only eight days difference in the time of their deaths.

During the long years of his residence in this county Mr. Wilson was identified with many business enterprises. In 1850 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. Following his return he conducted a hotel in 1853 at the corner of State and Ship streets. It was called the American and was the only hotel in St. Joseph at that time. In January, 1856, he removed to what is known as the old Wilson homestead in the south part of the city and here resided continuously until his demise, although at different times he made trips elsewhere. While in California he had gotten the idea of a grout building and in 1852 he erected his residence in accordance with that plan. The home still stands in as good preservation as in the beginning and is one of the landmarks of this part of the county. The residence was erected in octagonal form with pillars at each corner, extending from the ground to the roof. The rooms are also octagonal and the building was constructed upon a plan made by Mr. Wilson. The house is most convenient in its arrangement and became one of the notable architectural features of the locality. It continued to be his home for twenty years. He was also a great entertained, keeping open house and friend and stranger alike enjoyed his hospitality. In 1859 he visited Pike's Peak, but three years before this time had located upon his present farm. He cleared all of the tract and planted it to fruit, mostly apples, but he did not live to gather crops from his orchards. About the time of the Civil war he was engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued for lour or five years, being located at the corner now occupied by Sopker's clothing store. He also owned quite a tract of land in the heart of St. Joseph, which is now valued at thousands of dollars. This he exchanged about 1868 for thirty acres south of St. Joseph and there made his home.

Mr. Wilson was deeply interested in everything that tertained to the welfare and progress of the community and co-operated in many movements for the general good, giving his active aid and support to all plans that were formulated to advance the general welfare. He attended the Universalist church and aided in building a brick house of worship but the congregation never had a resident pastor. He was a man of domestic tastes, finding his greatest pleasure at his own fireside in the midst of his family. He was also a great reader and kept well informed on all current questions.

All who knew him respected him for his genuine worth, his reliability in business, his kindliness and congeniality. He stood as a high type of the worthy pioneer settler, whose efforts were of lasting benefit to the community. He passed away February 22, 1874, and his widow long survived him, residing at the old home, her death there occurring September 28, 1899.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Simeon C. Wilson were born five children, of whom two died in early youth,. while three reached* mature years, these being Jeremiah, Hiram and Angle, who is the wife of William Howard and resides at the old home. Jeremiah remained upon the farm with his brother and sister and never married. He died about four months after the mother's death, when fifty-five years of age. He was a very prominent Odd Fellow, active in the work of the order and passed all of the chairs in the local lodge. He also spent two years as conductor on the railroad before his father died.

Hiram Wilson was born in St. Joseph during the father's absence in California and the old home in which his birth occurred is still standing. He has always lived upon the farm and his life has been devoted to general agricultural and horticultural pursuits. He and his brother wished to keep the family intact and did so even after the sister was married, no division occurring until subsequent to the mother's death, when the property was divided, the sister receiving the home and five acres of land, while Hiram came into possession of fifteen acres and Jeremiah of ten acres.

Hiram Wilson was married at the age of twenty years to Miss Hattie Myers, a native of Vermont, who died in 1884 leaving two sons, Harry and Ralph, both of whom are in Chicago. The latter is an expert chef and the former is with Sears & Roebuck in the office of the paper manufacturing department. Two years after losing his first wife Mr. Wilson married Eva Hughson, whose family has resided in St. Joseph for thirty years. Her father, Joseph Hughson, was a photographer of this city and her brother now conducts the business. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson has been born a daughter, Frances, who graduated from the high school of St. Joseph in the class of 1906 at the age of seventeen years and she has won considerable local note as a debater.

Mr. Wilson owns twenty acres of land all planted to fruit and asparagus and annually harvests good crops of each, receiving therefrom a good financial return as they find a ready sale on the market. His business interests are carefully conducted and his practical methods are resultant factors in his success. In politics he is a Republican and is now serving as alderman in St. Joseph.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN F. WILSON. Among the younger business men of St. Joseph is numbered John F. Wilson, who is conducting a bakery here. He is one of the native sons of this city, his birth having occurred on the 2d of January, 1874. His father, John W. Wilson, was born in New York on the 1 6th of November, 1832, and was one of a large family. During his boyhood days his parents removed to Michigan, settling in Warren, Macomb county, where he was reared to manhood. In 1855, in company with Thomas Rimes of St, Joseph, he came to this city in a fishing smack, which left port at a point on Lake St. Clair. For several years he followed the business of fishing. In 1865 he turned his attention to the bakery business on Ship street, where the Zordell harness shop is now located. Subsequently he removed to the Preston building and there purchased from John Wilkinson a bakery and restaurant business conducted in the Wilkinson Hall, a frame building on State street, where now stands the Martin Block. When this building was torn down Mr. Wilson removed to a building located on the site of the John Kibler Block and afterward to a building just across the street, which was destroyed by fire in September, 1 90 1. A few years ago, however, the stock was removed to the Economy Block and Mr. Wilson retired from active business at that time, being succeeded by his son, John F. Wilson. He was for many years a prominent and enterprising business man of the city and his name is closely associated with the early commercial development here. John W. Wilson was married in St. Joseph on the 2 1 St of August, 1860, to Miss Susan Maria Olds, and unto them were born five sons and a daughter. In community affairs Mr. Wilson was actively interested, rejoicing in the advancement made by his adopted city and assisting in as far as possible in the work of public improvement and upbuilding. He creditably served as a member of the board of city aldermen from the first ward for two years, beginning in April, 1899. He led a life of well directed activity and actuated by a spirit of service in behalf of his family and his community. He died January 25, 1903, respected by all who knew him. The members of the family are: Hurlbut O., a resident of St. Joseph; W. L.; Mrs. John Eklund, who is living in this city; John F.; Charles E., who resides in White Cloud, Michigan, and Harry Lee, whose home is in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

John F. Wilson was reared in St. Joseph, where he has spent his entire life. His education was largely acquired in the public schools here although he also pursued a commercial course in Benton Harbor College. At an early age he entered the employ of his father and learned the bakery business, which he mastered both in principle and detail. He continued with his father until the latter's retirement from business life, when he became his successor and is now proprietor of a good bakery. His business has constantly grown and he has now a gratifying trade. He is respected by all not alone because of the success he has achieved but also by reason of the straightforward, honorable methods that he has ever followed.

In 1898 in the city of his nativity Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Dora A. Foltz, who was born in Bremen, Indiana. They have one child, John Charles, whose birth occurred in St. Joseph, October 26, 1905. Mr. Wilson is independent in his political views. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has taken the various degrees up to and including those of the council.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM LYNN WILSON, M. D., physician and surgeon of St. Joseph, was iDorn in Ontario, Canada, in 1867, and is a son of Dr. John Wilson, whose birth occurred in Canada and who is now living in Detroit, Michigan. He is a graduate of McGill University at Montreal, Canada, and he completed his medical education in the Royal Physicians and Surgeons College in England. Thus well equipped for his profession he returned to America and for the past twenty years has been engaged in practice in Detroit, Michigan, where he is now well known as a successful and able general practitioner. He has been an earnest and discriminating student in the line of professional knowledge and is quick to adopt the new and improved methods, which supplement rather than supplant the old and time-tried methods of practice. He married Miss Margaret M. Hunter, also a native of Canada, and they have become the parents of six children.

Dr. William Lynn Wilson, the second member of the family and the only one residing in Berrien county, is indebted to the schools of Toronto for his early educational advantages and he also attended the university there. Subsequently he became a student in Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1890, and he entered upon the practice of his profession in connection with J. H. Carstens, M. D., at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he accepted the position of physician and surgeon at the Champion Iron Works Company Hospital at Champion, Michigan, in the upper peninsula, where he remained for a year. He afterward located at Midland, Michigan, where he entered into partnership with Dr. C. E. McCalum, this relation being maintained for two years, at the end of which time Dr. Wilsgn decided to come to St. Joseph, and since 1895 has practiced continuously in this city. His professional service has won him the respect and confidence of the general public and he is now accorded rank with the prominent physicians of Berrien county. He was pension examiner of Midland, Michigan, and twice has been health officer of St. Joseph. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medical Society and the Berrien County Medical Society. Of the last named he served as vice president and subsequently filled the presidency for one term.

Dr. Wilson is a Republican in his political views and as every true American citizen should do keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but is without aspiration for the honors or emoluments of public office. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge and also holds membership relations with the Maccabees and the Foresters.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.