WI BIO - Columbia Co - WILSON, George Thomas

Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
Wisconsin. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, pp 529-530

George Thomas WILSON, who is editor of the "Columbia County Reporter" and 
exerts a wide influence in this part of the state, having a reputation as an 
able country newspaper man, was born 20 March 1862 in Carlisle, England, a 
son of George and Margaret S. (MOFFATT) WILSON. His parents still live at 
that place, and there his father carried on a business as carriage blacksmith 
until failing health compelled his retirement. The WILSON family is of 
Scotch extraction, and the grandfather of the subject of this article was 
born in Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, and was taken to England in his early 
childhood. His [George Thomas WILSON's] father, George WILSON, was a 
veterinary surgeon and horseshoer and was in business at Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
for many years. He [George WILSON] died when over seventy years of age. 
Thomas MOFFATT, the father of Mrs. Margaret S. WILSON, was a tailor and had a 
shop in the same city. He [Thomas MOFFATT] died during the last cholera 
epidemic in England [1865?].

George T. WILSON was educated in the local schools of Carlisle [England], and 
when fourteen years old was apprenticed to the printing trade in that city. 
After the old English fashion he learned his business thoroughly and has made 
it his life calling. In the spring of 1889 he [George Thomas WILSON] came to 
this country and secured employment at the case in the office of the state 
printers at Providence [Providence County], Rhode Island. He worked in a job 
office at Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts], and on the opening day of 
the year 1892 he reached Portage [Columbia County], Wisconsin. In 1895 [p 
530] he went into the office of the "Wisconsin Rundschau," and remained there 
until the fall of 1899. That year he came to Rio [Otsego Township, Columbia 
County, Wisconsin] and took charge of the "Columbia County Reporter," which 
has continued under his management to the present time. He became a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in England, and united with the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen at Portage [Columbia County]. He was reared 
in the Church of England. He takes an active part in the Calumet Club, and 
was instrumental in its organization.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly