WI BIO - La Crosse Co - WILSON, James

Biographical History of LaCrosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, 
Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis, 1892, vol II, pp 401-402

James WILSON was born 05 Aug 1856. His father, James Wilson, Sr., was born 
in Aryshire, Scotland, was reared on a farm in that country, and received his 
education there. For a time he was employed in a mill. He [James WILSON, 
Sr.] married [Miss] Janet BARCLAY, a daughter of David BARCLAY, who was born, 
reared, and educated in the same neighborhood with Mr. WILSON. Shortly after 
their marriage, 12 June 1855, they came to America and came direct to La 
Crosse County, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1855, where they had relatives, 
James BARCLAY being a half brother of Mrs. WILSON.

They [the James and Janet (BARCLAY) WILSON family] first settled in Hamilton 
Township [LaCrosse County, Wisconsin], where they lived some years. In 1865 
they moved to the town of Campbell [Campbell Township, La Crosse County], and 
in 1869 [p 402] came to the farm near Stevenstown [Holland Township, LaCrosse 
County], on which the subject of our sketch now lives. James Wilson, Sr. 
departed this life on 12 January 1878, when in his sixty-first year. 
Politically he was a Republican; religiously a Presbyterian. His wife [Janet 
(BARCLAY) WILSON] died on 08 October 1881, at the age of forty-eight years. 
She too was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

The family of James and Janet (BARCLAY) WILSON was composed of nine children, 
seven of whom are now living, viz.: James, Kate, Alex., Jessie, Mary, 
Maggie, and Lizzie. Alex. is now in Montana. Mary is a graduate of West 
Salem High School, and since her graduation has been teaching school. 
Margaret died at age eighteen months. David died at the age of three years. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, and received his education in 
the public schools of the neighborhood. After the death of his father [after 
12 January 1878] he took charge of the farming operations. On him fell the 
care of the younger children. The WILSON farm consists of 160 acres, on 
which are carried on general farming and dairying.

Mr. [James] WILSON was married 24 April 1889 to [Miss] Mary DICK, who was 
born in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, daughter of William and Rose (NEAL) 
DICK, who were natives of Scotland and early settlers of Trempeauleau County. 
The union of James and Mary (DICK) WILSON has been blessed with one 
daughter, Lulu Janet. Mr. WILSON is a Republican; has served three years as 
Township Clerk, and is now Justice of the Peace. Has been a member of the 
school board for eight years, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly