J. W. C. Wilson

As printed in 1881

J. W. C. WILSON, Sr.

James W. C. Wilson, Sr., was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, on the 16th day of February, 1808. His father, Levi Wilson, Esq., was a prominent farmer and large land owner of that state. Mr. Isaac Wilson, uncle of our subject, was one of Ray county's earliest pioneers, having come to the county more than sixty years ago. The subject of this article was reared and educated in his native state. In the year 1829, his father removed to Ray county, Missouri, but remaining then only temporarily, went to Clay county and remained there for about four years. He then returned to Ray county and lived here, the remainder of his life. Mr. James W. C. Wilson has never had his home changed from Ray county since he first came here, at the age of twenty-two years, except during the year 1830, when he lived in Clay county, Missouri. When Mr. Wilson commenced life for himself, he had not a dollar in the world. He hired to work on the farm of William Carlisle, of Ray county, for ten dollars per month; at that time considered high wages, and only paid to the very best farm hands. At the end of two years Mr. Wilson had saved from his wages the sum of one hundred and one dollars. Of this sum he paid one hundred dollars, half its price, for a farm of eighty acres, for which he had bargained, the remaining one hundred dollars of the price of the farm, to be paid in less than eleven months from the time of the first payment. He now had just one dollar left. He possessed besides, five acres of corn, which he had grown in Clay county, and from the sale of it realized the sum of fifty dollars, selling at seventeen and a half cents per bushel of corn and fifty cents per hundred bundles for the fodder. This sum he also paid upon the price of the farm, and in consideration of paying in advance, of the stipulated time, received credit for sixty instead of fifty dollars. Mr. Wilson worked until he had the remaining forty dollars, and then paying the balance due on the place, received a deed to it. Thus he first became a land-holder, and laid the foundation for his future success and usefulness. He now owns a farm of 895 acres, ten miles north of Richmond, on the Kingston road; 800 acres of this place are under fence, about 340 acres of pasture lands, and 4-60 acres in a high state of cultivation. This is the largest and most valuable farm in the township. Mr. Wilson has always been a Benton democrat, and formerly took considerable interest in politics. He has repeatedly been a delegate to the democratic convention of his county and congressional district. He has never sought or desired office at the hands of his party, though he has never failed to support the nominees of both state and national conventions, except the nomination of Horace Greeley for the presidency, in 1872. Mr. Wilson did not regard him as a proper choice for a democratic convention to make, and did not support him. Mr. Wilson has never married, and his mother, now ninety-four years of age, lives with him, and despite her son's efforts to restrain her from attempting any household cares, she insists still upon superintending the domestic affairs of the house. Her health is good, and for one so old, she is remarkably strong and active. Mr. Wilson is one of Ray county's most substantial farmers and best citizens, and the perusal of his life's history should inspire the poor youth of the county to emulate his example in the acquisition of property.

As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.