John C. Wilson

As printed in 1911

JOHN C. WILSON.

John C. Wilson, a successful shoe merchant of Muscatine, his store being at No 127 East Second street, has been engaged in the sale of shoes here for the past thirty-seven years. His birth occurred in Verner's Bridge, County.Armagh, Ireland, on the 15th of May, 1854, his parents being John and Marie (Courtney) Wilson, who were likewise natives of the Emerald isle and were of English and Scotch descent respectively. William Wilson, the paternal grandfather, was born in England and was a butcher by trade. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Long, was of Scotch lineage. They died in Ireland and were buried at New Mills, County Tyrone, William Wilson being seventy-four years old at the time of his death, while his wife attained the age of seventy-one Their children were eleven in number, as follows: William, Edward, Christopher, John, James, Jane, Ann, Margaret, Marie, Eliza and one who died in infancy. Christopher Courtney, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Scotland and in early life accompanied his parents on their removal to Ireland, being reared to manhood in County Armagh. He followed farming and stock-raising throughout his active business career and passed away in County Armagh at the venerable age of ninety-one years. Unto him and his wife were born five children, namely: Sarah, Margaret, Robert, Marie and Thomas.

John Wilson, the father of John C. Wilson, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1874 and made his way direct to Louisa county, Iowa, settling on a farm which he had purchased prior to his arrival in this state. He was successfully engaged in business as a farmer and stock-raiser during his active life and at one time owned five farms in Louisa county, which went to his children. From 1 89 1 until their death the parents made their home with John C. in Muscatine. The father passed away October 7, 1908, and was buried at Letts, Iowa, on the ninety-fourth anniversary of his birth October 9. While still a resident of Ireland, in his younger days, he belonged to the militia known as the Yeomen or Home Guards. The demise of his wife occurred in 19OT, when she was seventy-seven years of age. They were originally Episcopalians in religious faith but after coming to the United States joined the Methodist church, there being no church of the Episcopal denomination in their home locality. They reared a family of four children, as follows: Robert, who resides near Letts, Iowa; William, living in Letts, Iowa; John C., of this review; and Lizzie, the wife of John C. Neil, of Lyndon, Kansas.

John C. Wilson was reared on the home farm in County Armagh, Ireland, and obtained his education in the schools of that place. When fifteen years of age he began clerking in a general store at Tullyrone, being thus employed for three years and ten months. In 1873, when a young man of nineteen years, he set sail for the United States and on the 19th of August arrived in Muscatine, Iowa. He at once began clerking in the same building where he now conducts business on his own account, selling shoes for W. H. Stewart. On the ist of June, 1895, he formed a partnership with T. W. Cherry and the two gentlemen purchased the interests of T. S. Stewart. This relation was maintained with mutual pleasure and profit until April, 1901, when Mr. Cherry retired, since which time Mr. Wilson has been the sole proprietor of the establishment. With the exception of two years spent upon the road, he has sold shoes in Muscatine for a period of thirty-seven years. His record in this connection is a most creditable one, for he has worked his way steadily upward from a humble clerkship to a position among the prosperous and enterprising merchants of the city. He is likewise identified with other business enterprises of Muscatine and is widely recognized as a substantial and representative citizen.

On the 28th of June, 1881. in New York city, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Qierry, a native of Tullyrone, Ireland, and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Marie (Hall) Cherry. Her paternal grandparents, Robert and.Ann (Rowe) Cherry, lived to attain a ripe old age. Thomas Cherry, the father of Mrs. Wilson, was a linen manufacturer of County Armagh and there acted as guardian of the poor for more than a quarter of a century. He shipped linen to America during the period of the Civil war and passed away at Warren Point, Ireland, when about eighty-six years of age. His wife, who survived him, was called to her final rest in 1904 at the age of seventy-seven years. Unto them were born eleven children, as follows: Mary, Ann Jane, Lizzie. Louisa, Adelaide, Thomas W., Moses, Caroline, Robert, Edith and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of four children; Marie, who wedded Lee L. Richards, by whom she had a son, Robert W.; Thomas W., who married Miss Genevieve Ellis and clerks for his father; Anna L., who gave her hand in marriage to Lee Richards Ashcraft; and Robert C., who is attending school. The wife and mother died in 1903, when forty-eight year.s of age, passing away in the faith of the Episcopal church.

Politically Mr. Wilson is a stanch republican, while religious faith he is an Episcopalian. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Bankers Reserve, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern Brotherhood of America. His residence is at No. 124 West Third street and he is well and favorably known throughout the community. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the utmost commendation.

As printed in History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time; (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.