Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Wilson, Leonard George ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 5:32 pm Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co LEONARD GEORGE WILSON, manager of the business interests of Selz, Schwab & Co., in Joliet, has been a resident of this city since 1868. He was born in London, England, August 7, 1847, son of Leonard and Ann Ellen (Weed) Wilson, lifelong residents of England. His father, who before retiring from business was the proprietor of a jewelry store in London, died in 1899, when eighty-one years of age. Mr. Wilson had four sisters, two of whom went to New Zealand. The older, Ellen Selina, who was the wife of Robert Greig, died in 1898. The younger, Annie Elizabeth, is the wife of William Handley. The other sisters, Matilda Caroline and Sophia Louisa, together with their brother, William Joseph, continue to reside at the old home in London. The paternal grandfather and one of his sons, both bearing the name of George Wilson, served in the British navy; the former, who held the rank of captain, fought at Trafalgar under Admiral Nelson; the latter was killed in the Crimean war. After completing his education the subject of this article took up office work until 1867, the year of his coming to America. He spent one year in Chicago and then came to Joliet, where he was employed by the Michigan Central Railroad Company for seven years, and then worked in a quarry business with W. A. Steel for a year. January 1, 1876, he accepted a position with the firm in whose employ he has since continued. Starting in their office he worked his way up to the responsible position of manager of their factory at the Illinois State Penitentiary. His long service with the same firm is abundant proof of his efficiency and faithfulness to their interests. He is one of those genial, courteous gentlemen, whom it is a pleasure to meet and the memory of whom is not soon forgotten, even by casual acquaintances. Since the organization of the People's Loan and Homestead Association he has been among its stockholders. While he keeps in touch with the questions of the day he has not identified himself with any political party, but has maintained independence of thought. Fraternally he is a Past Regent of the Royal Arcanum and a member of the Ancient Order of Egyptians. October 19, 1876, Mr. Wilson married Ella B., daughter of Edwin B. and Elizabeth Cornelia (Olney) Mason. They became the parents of four children, namely: Ralph Mason (deceased); Edwin Leonard; Clara Ella (deceased); and Percy William. On her mother's side Mrs. Wilson inherits the Puritan blood of those who landed on Plymouth Rock. Her grandfather, Hale S. Mason, a native of Massachusetts, descended from ancestors who settled in New England prior to the Revolutionary war. In childhood he was taken to New York. During the early '30s he, with his family, made the journey from the latter place to Illinois, and settled near Lockport, where he bought land. Indians were still to be seen roaming over the prairies and skulking in the forests of the state. Nor had wild animals yet receded before the advancing march of civilization. At once he became active among the pioneers of this county. Among the positions he held were those of collector for the Illinois and Michigan Canal and justice of the peace. In 1850 he joined a party of Argonauts and crossed the plains to California. For some years he engaged in mining and trading in the far west, returning via the Isthmus of Panama. An enthusiastic Abolitionist, as a member of the Underground Railroad he aided that cause materially and helped many negroes to escape from bondage, sending his sons to take numbers of them in wagons to Chicago. Two of his sons, George H. and John Q., served in the Civil war. The elder was color bearer and was killed during a skirmish near Cumberland Gap. The father of Mrs. Wilson was quite young when his parents came to Illinois. For some time he was connected with his father in business. Afterward he was located in different parts of the state; coming to Joliet he organized the People's Loan and Homestead Association, of which he was the secretary until his death in 1884. He and his parents were forced out of the Congregational Church before the war, owing to their anti-slavery opinions. In his business transactions Mr. Wilson is methodical and exact. He has ever shown himself guardful of the best interests of his company and in his decisions has been wise and businesslike. He is a man of decided and inflexible traits of character, but with these is blended a cordiality and geniality that render him deservedly popular. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/wilson1658nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb