John H. Wilson

As printed in 1908

JOHN H. WILSON, a prominent and substantial citizen of Moorefield Township, residing on a valuable farm of 360 acres, which is situated in Section 32, on the Urbana Turnpike Road, four miles from the center of Springfield, was born February 18, 1850, in Couuty Down, Ireland, within sight of the spires of the city of Belfast. He is a son of Robert H. and Mary (Hamilton) Wilson.

Until he was ten years of age, John II. AVilson attended a local school and was then apprenticed to a tailor, with whom he served for seven years, after which, according to the law, he traveled as a journeyman. In this way he visited the leading cities of England and also worked in Wales and Scotland. This taste of travel made him anxious to see America and as he was well equipped with his self-supporting trade, he crossed the ocean with no apprehensions of failure in a strange land. He landed in the port of New York on June 21, 1870, and took little time to get acquainted with the wonders of that great metropolis, accepting work at his trade on the very day he arrived.

Mr. Wilson remained in the city of New York until 1872, when he came to Springfield, Ohio, and until 1877 worked for leading tailoring firms in that city as a cutter. He then embarked in business for himself, opening a tailoring establishment at No. 26 East Main Street and subsequently, as his business increased, took in the premises at No. 28 East Main, and he continued in the same line for twenty-two years, during this period enjoying the largest trade in the city. In 1882 he bought 320 acres of land, which was the old Jacob Thomas farm, to which he subsequently added forty acres, but marked with ten acres to the railroad running through his property. He has given the pleasant name of Spruce Lawn Farm to his land and it is known all over this section on account of the high grade of look produced here.

Prior to "1899, when Mr. Wilson sold out his tailoring business to Thomas Hack and retired to his farm, he had lived on the place even while carrying on his business at Springfield. Since that time he has devoted himself closely to his large interests here and to improving this property. He has spent some $15,000 in improvements, has built several residences and other substantial buildings and has his own water system and electric light plant. His home is fitted with every modern convenience and probably has not its equal in any other rural district in this section of Ohio.

Mr. Wilson was married (first) to Emma Lohner, who died June 4, 1880. She was a daughter of John Lohner, who came from Germany to Springfield with his wife before her birth. There was one son born to this marriage, Robert J., who was born at Springfield, March 19, 1878. Robert J. Wilson was educated in the Springfield schools and Wittenberg College and attended Starling Medical college at Columbus for one year. He then became interested in stock-raising and in raising and dealing in horses. He is widely known over the United States as a judge of horses and as a starter of races. He owns four valuable stallions: Atlantic King, with a record of 2:0934; The Jester, with a record of 2:1934, with a trial record of 2:1114; Con Bell, with a record of 2:2434, and a registered Norman draft stallion named Phidias. Robert J. Wilson married Leah Dalie, who is a daughter of John Dalie, of Springfield, and they have one son, John L. Robert J.

Wilson and family reside at Spruce LaTvn Farm.

John H. Wilsgn was married (second) August 15, 1889, to Martha E. Mowatt, who died February 19, 1892, leaving one son, James M., who was born at Springfield, at the home of his grandmother, September 5, 1890. He resides with his father in Moorefield Township.

John H. "Wilson has been an active citizen and has always done his duty in regard to public responsibilities. He has never been particularly active in politics and has never consented to serve in any official capacity except as a member of the School Board. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church and is a liberal supporter of its many benevolent enterprises.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.