In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1858, Polk county
From The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominen (1883)
JAMES M. WILSON, baker and confectioner, was born in Polk county, Iowa, May 29, 1858. His father, James H. Wilson, was born in Ohio, Jan. 2, 1807, and his mother, Abigail (Powers) Wilson, was a native of Indiana, born Feb. 3, 1823, and died in the spring of 1865. Their family consisted of four children: William N., born Sept. 25, 1850; Mary L., born Nov, 25, 1852; Marian N., born Jan. 1, 1856, and our subject. When six years old he was taken with his parents to Lafayette county. Mo., and one year thereafter to Lamar, Barton county, and remained there two years and then moved to Cherokee county, Kan., where they engaged in farming until 1875. Our subject was raised principally on a farm, and educated in the common schools. In the fall of the last named year he went to Montgomery county, same state, and for a time engaged in agricultural pursuits; then to Labette county, and continued in the same business; three years after which, he returned to Montgomery county. While there he engaged in farming and mining. He came to Joplin in June, 1882, and engaged in baking five months, and on Dec. 20, 1882, he purchased the interest of his employer, and has since continued. Mr. Wilson, though a young man, has by his energy and strict attention to business, acquired a good trade and has shown himself worthy of a very liberal support.
As printed in The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominent (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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