Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: WILSON, James Hunter (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 September 18, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 215-216 JAMES HUNTER WILSON. A notable career of successful achievement, guided by most sound business principles, is that of J. H. Wilson, the president of the J. H. Wilson Saddlery Company. He has continued as the active head of the business for forty-one years and in all that time has practically sustained no reverses, his business having enjoyed a steady growth. Back of this continued success are principles which should receive the attention and inspire the efforts of all who wish to progress in business life. One of the principles which has ever guided him in his relations is that of meeting his every obligation. He has seen many of his competitors retire from business for one reason or another, sometimes through failure, and yet the name of the J. H. Wilson Saddlery Company stands as a synonym for enterprise, progress and the most substantial qualities of business. Today Mr. Wilson ranks as a pioneer harness manufacturer in the state of Colorado, with an unassailable reputation for honesty in business, and in reviewing his career one cannot but feel that it is an exemplification of the old adage: "An honest man is the noblest work of God." J. H. Wilson was born in Liberty. Union county, Indiana, March 13, 1848, and is a son of J. D. and Elizabeth (Hunter) Wilson, both of whom were natives of that state. The mother died when her son was but nine months old and he was reared by his father, who removed to Paxton, Illinois. The father was also a harness and saddlery manufacturer and engaged in that line of business in Paxton, but when war was declared between the north and the south he volunteered in defense of the Union cause, joining the Second Illinois Cavalry as saddler for his regiment. He was employed in that work for the entire period of the Civil war. On taking up his duties with the government he was accompanied to his place of service by his young son, J. H. Wilson of this review, who became a general favorite with all the officers and men of the command and earned more money than the fighting men through selling papers, fruit and other handy things. On the day that General Grant went into Vicksburg, Mississippi, Mr. Wilson made a clear profit of sixty dollars by selling fruit to the soldiers. At the close of the war father and son returned to Paxton, where business was resumed, and the son learned the trade of making harness and saddlery under his father's direction and continued with him until he decided to follow the advice of Horace Greeley and go west. During this period young Wilson attended school at Bloomington, Illinois, for about eleven months, this being all the schooling he ever received. In 1876 he arrived in Denver, where he worked at his trade for a year, and then established a small harness and saddlery shop,. which throughout the intervening years has developed into one of the foremost establishments of this kind in Colorado. He has displayed most able management in his business affairs. At the outset he had one assistant and they were perfectly able to take care of the trade, but today he employs a large number of expert workmen and has an office force to care for the correspondence and other like features of the business. His interests have always been most carefully, systematically and wisely conducted and for many years Mr. Wilson was the sole head of the undertaking, so that the business stands as a monument to his skill, his sagacity and his thorough reliability. In 1900, however, he admitted his son-in law to a partnership but the business is still under the direct supervision and active management of Mr. Wilson. As the years have passed he has embraced his opportunity for judicious investment and has acquired some valuable property in Denver, where he also owns a fine residence. In 1869, in Paxton, Illinois, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wood, of that place, who died there in 1877. They were the parents of two children: Mrs. Florence Crane, who was born in Paxton and was graduated from the Denver schools, her home being now in Little Rock. Arkansas; and Mrs. Bertie Anderson, who was born in Paxton and resides in Denver. She has two children. Hunter and Junior Anderson. Mrs. Crane has a family of four children. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Wilson was again married in 1884, his second union being with Miss Florence Merrill, of Rossville, Illinois, and to them have been born two children: Mrs. Carrie Pontius and Jean. The latter was born in Denver and is still under the parental roof. The elder daughter was born in Denver, was graduated from the Denver schools and still makes her home in this city. She has two children, Harry and Jean. In politics Mr. Wilson has ever been an active worker, but votes more for the man than the party. He belongs to the Pioneers Society and is one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of Denver, where his name is synonymous with progressiveness, enterprise and thorough reliability in business.