Imperial-San Bernardino-San Diego County CA Archives Biographies.....Wilson, Ira L. 1872 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 18, 2006, 6:40 pm

Author: F. C. Farr (editor, 1918)

IRA L. WILSON has been actively and successfully identified with the business
interests of Imperial County along realty lines since 1903, and he is today one
of the leaders in his chosen field. Mr. Wilson is a native of Franklin County,
New York, and was born February 13, 1872, a son of E. N. and Alice (Hoxey)
Wilson, who now reside in Los Angeles. Ira L. Wilson, the subject of this
sketch, acquired his education in the public schools of his native county and
state. Finishing his education at a comparatively early date, he decided to cast
his lot with the Golden West, and came to Redlands, California. Here he engaged
in contracting and building and has the distinction of being the youngest
contractor that ever engaged in business in that city. Before he had reached the
age of twenty-one he had the contract for and erected the First Congregational
Church of that city, besides many other extensive contracts, all of which were
proof of his mechanical skill. Mr. Wilson continued in the contracting business
until 1900, when he started the Whiting Supply Company at Imperial and
Holtville, which was reorganized and called the National Lumber Company. He
engaged in that business until 1907. In that year he organized the "C Wilson
About It (?)" Land Company at Imperial, later removing to El Centro and carrying
on business in San Diego also. In connection with his business interests along
realty lines, loans and investments, he maintains an office at 472 Main Street,
El Centro. Mr. Wilson devotes time to his own ranch holdings. On July 28, 1893,
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Nora Crum, daughter of C. C. Crum of
Redlands, California. The father of Mrs. Wilson resides in Redlands and is
numbered among the substantial residents of that community. The mother of Mrs.
Wilson passed away in 1905. The family is of old American origin, and Mr.
Wilson's grandfather and his two brothers were veterans of the Civil war and
were killed in action. Mrs. Wilson's father was also in action in the Civil war.
The subject of this review was one of the pioneers on this desert and has the
distinction of occupying the fourth tent house in this locality, and operated
the first automobile in Imperial Valley. He erected the Alamo Hotel at
Holtville, which was the first building erected, and which marked the town site
of Holtville.

Additional Comments:
From:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918

Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco

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