Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Wilson, Joseph A 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 8:36 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Wilson, Joseph A. – The importance of any community is measured by the public 
spirit of its leading citizens, and judged by this standard. Morris ranks 
among the foremost cities of its size in the State. Among those who have aided 
materially in the advancement of the county seat in every line is Joseph A. 
Wilson, financier, business man and former mayor, and the present supervisor 
of Morris Township. Mr. Wilson was born in Putnam County, Ill., February 20, 
1850, son of Jonathan and Elma C. (Hoyle) Wilson, natives of Union County, 
Ky., and Belmont County, Ohio. Jonathan Wilson went to Putnam County. Ill., 
with his parents in 1828, while the lady who afterwards became his wife 
arrived there in 1833, and there they married and began housekeeping. In 1850 
they came to Grundy County, settling on a farm in Vienna Township. In time, 
Jonathan Wilson became a man of large means, raising cattle on an extensive 
scale, and he also bought and sold stock and was a veterinary practitioner of 
some note. His death occurred in 1887, following which his widow moved to 
Morris where she died in 1898. Nine children were born to them, six sons and 
three daughters, three of whom survive, all residents of Morris: Edith E., 
Joseph A., and Orville T., the last named being manager of the Morris Grain 
Company.

Joseph A. Wilson grew up on his father's homestead learning how to conduct the 
farm, and attending the local schools. He remained with his parents until he 
was twenty-five years old, when he began working land for himself and buying 
and selling cattle. In those days there was plenty of open prairie on which to 
herd his cattle, so that the profits were greater, although the prices he 
received were lower. The first farm owned by Mr. Wilson was in Pulaski County, 
Ind., but he sold it four years after he bought it, and then purchased land in 
Saratoga, Aux Sable and Wauponsee Townships, Grundy County, as well in other 
parts of the State, owning some 1,300 acres in Grundy County alone, and also 
400 acres in Jasper County, Iowa. All of this he rents, with the exception of 
800 acres which he utilizes for pasturage purposes, also 700 acres in Newton 
County, Ind. His cattle business is a large one for he handles from 500 to 600 
head of cattle annually. Mrs. Wilson owns 1,300 acres of land in Grundy 
County. In 1881 Mr. Wilson moved to Morris from the farm, and in 1893 built a 
fine frame house containing all modern improvements on the corner of Nettle 
and Main streets. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Wilson is a director 
of the Grundy County National Bank and of the Morris Grain company.

On March 5, 1879, Mr. Wilson was married to Harriet E. Collins, born in 
Saratoga Township, daughter of Joshua and Harriet (Cryder) Collins, natives of 
Queens, N. Y., and Chillicothe, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents 
of the following children: Mary E., who is now Mrs. H. Philip Southcomb of 
Morris; an unnamed babe who died in infancy; Jay Collins, who is at home; and 
Henry J., who died at the age of seven and one-half months. Mr. Wilson is a 
member of the Congregational Church. A strong Republican, he has been called 
upon to represent his ward in the city council and in 1900-02 was elected 
mayor of Morris. While occupying the executive chair, he gave the city a 
clean, honest, business-like administration and is regarded as one of the best 
mayors the city ever had. A man of keen business sense, he has succeeded in 
whatever he has undertaken, and the city has benefited by his operations.

page 926

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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