Biography of 	Andrew H. Wilson, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller September 2000

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Andrew H. Wilson, one of the brightest attorneys of New Orleans, La., is a native of that city.
He was born on the 8th of January, 1857, and is a son of William C. Wilson.  He was educated
chiefly in the public schools, and graduated from the New Orleans High school in 1875, and at
once began the study of law in the office of Merrick.  Race & Foster, a leading firm of that
city.  Admitted to the bar in 1878, Mr. Wilson immediately commenced practicing law in his
native city where he has continued up to the present time, and has earned a high reputation as
an attentive and well-informed attorney.  In 1886 he became the partner of W. H. Foster, one of
his former preceptors. and the firm of Foster & Wilson existed until 1888, when Mr. Foster
died.  Mr. Wilson has been very successful at the bar, and has won several important and
difficult suits, giving his attention particularly to the civil law.  He is a democrat in
politics, and has always been a stanch advocate of his party, but has never been an advocate
for office.  Early in life he participated in the civil and military movements in Louisiana
that led to the establishment of democratic government in that state.  The only public position
ever held by Mr. Wilson is that of school director, or member of the board of education of New
Orleans, to which he has been several times appointed by the governors of Louisiana.  In that
capacity he has done much for the improvement of the public schools as an active and vigorous
friend of common education.  In 1888 he acted as chairman of the committee on legislation of
the board, which prepared and engineered through the legislature the present educational law of
the state.  Under this law a civil service system of examination and appointments of teachers
was introduced, and has proven a most successful innovation on old methods of appointing
teachers through influence and favoritism.  While serving on the committees on teachers, high
and normal schools, rules and regulations and apportionment of schools funds, he has assisted
in accomplishing other improvements that have been very beneficial to the schools.  Mr. Wilson
was one of the organizers of the Alumni society of the high schools, a very strong organization
of graduates of the public schools of New Orleans, and has been an important factor in the work
of this society.  He is also a member of the board of directors of the Southern Athletic club,
the leading organization of that character in the South.  In 1882 Mt. Wilson married Miss
Jennie Trott, a young lady of New Orleans.  He is well and popularly known in all the relations
of active life, and has done his public and private duties very creditably.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 461.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.