Biography of John H. Wilson, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

Judge John H. Wilson was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., March 12,
1827. His father, Benjamin Wilson, was born and grew to manhood in
Virginia, and when of age went to Missouri, where he married Virginia
Johnson, a native of Virginia. Mr. Wilson was a soldier in the Black
Hawk War, and after coming to Missouri farmed in Cape Girardeau County
until his death in 1869. John H. passed his boyhood and youth in his
native county, and at the age of twelve began to clerk in a mercantile
store, and at the age of twenty went into business with his uncle, in
which he continued until the outbreak of the war. In 1860 he was
elected judge of the county, which position he held several years. He
voted against the adoption of the Drake Constitution in 1865, and the
same year moved to Water Valley, Miss., where he engaged in the
mercantile business until 1881. He was there elected may or of the
town for three years, and held the office of Yalobusha County
treasurer for two years. In 1881 he sold his business, and, coming to
Franklin County, [p.1285] Ark., located at Mulberry, and established a
mercantile business, which he conducted until 1886. After being
elected county judge of this county he took up his residence in Ozark,
proving himself to be an invaluable acquisition to the community. Mr.
Wilson has held several local offices, and while in Water Valley for
many years was president of the school board of directors, and was one
of the prime factors in the building of the best public school in
Mississippi. He was married in 1851, in Cape Girardeau County, to Miss
M. S. Harris, a native of that county, and daughter of Dr. E. W.
Harris. This lady died at Mulberry in 1865, leaving eight children: E.
H., of Little Rock; Mollie E., wife of A. P. Jernberg, of Water
Valley; Benjamin W.; Sallie J., wife of Jesse Miller, of Oregon;
Samuel G., John W., Anna May and Lee Gray. In September, 1886, Mr.
Wilson married Mrs. Tosie Pickel, daughter of Gen. Jesse Miller. Mrs.
Wilson is a native of this county, where she was reared and educated,
and she and Judge Wilson are active members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The latter is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the Knights
of Honor. He is one of the stockholders of the Canning Company in
Ozark, and one of the original promoters of the enterprise.