Samuel J. Wilson Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1010-1011


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.




************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************





SAMUEL J. WILSON is the manager of the Flint Cabinet Creamery Company 
and Treasurer and Manager of the Genesee County Co-operative Creamery 
Company. The Flint Cabinet Creamery Company was organized in 1883, our 
subject being very instrumental in its organization, its original 
promoters being Orin Stone, N. T. Wilson and he of whom we write. In 
three months the last two gentlemen bought out Mr. Stone, at the same 
time adding the names of Messrs. W. H. & F. A. Wilson & Co., also J. N. 
Wilson and D. G. Slafter of Vassar, as included in the company. W. H. & 
F. A. Wilson & Co. are residents of Harrison, Mich., and Mr. J. N. 
Wilson of Ohio. This continued to be conducted, with the above-named 
gentlemen as officers, until the fall of 1887 when it was formally 
incorporated with a capital of $50,000. Mr. Slafter was President, N. 
T. Wilson Secretary and Treasurer, this position now being held by W. 
H. Long, Mr. Wilson having withdrawn on account of ill health in 1889. 
Our subject has been general manager from the first.

   The company manufacture dairy goods of all kinds and ship their 
products to all parts of the United States. They also furnish 
creameries and private dairies. Their factory is located at No. 817 N. 
Saginaw Street and extends through to Chippewa Street. They give 
employment to twelve men.

   The Genesee Co-operative Creamery Company was organized in 1888 and 
incorporated with a capital of $3,500, which was afterward increased to 
$4,500. They manufacture butter. Its organizers were N. T. & S. J. 
Wilson and its officers are as follows: President, Jacob Kurtz; Vice-
President, John S. Cary; Secretary, W. H. Long; Treasurer and Manager, 
S. J. Wilson. They make about one hundred thousand pounds of butter per 
year. The interest and co-operation of the farmers has been secured by 
each patron purchasing one share.

   Our subject was born in Thetford Township, this county, September 3, 
1849. He is a son of N. N. and Phalla (Slafter) Wilson. 'The parents 
came from Vermont to this township in 1834, taking up new land. There 
was not a frame house in Flint at that time. At different times he was 
the owner of a great many acres of land in the State, but the farm he 
finally settled on comprised one hundred and sixty acres. He resided 
there until 1883 and then removed to Flint. He was Justice of the Peace 
for many years and Supervisor of his township.

   Our subject is one of a family of eight children, they being Mercy, 
Mrs. M. L. Miller; Carlos P.; William. H.; Hon. F. A.; Rev. N.; Persis 
A.; our subject and Nahum T. Our subject's father died in April, 1888, 
at the age of eighty-two years. His mother died in 1863. Samuel J. 
acquired a good common-school education. He was reared on a farm until 
coming here with the exception of having been foreman for his brother 
in the woods for two years. N. T. and Samuel J. Wilson are the 
inventors of the Cabinet Creamery and on coming here they found no 
difficulty in making others see its good points and in starting a 
factory. They have been very successful and their products find a ready 
sale throughout the whole country. Mr. Wilson is now Alderman for the 
First Ward. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Masons, to the Knights of the Maccabees and to the 
National Union.

   Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Lizzie Perry, of Mt. Morris Township, 
September 19, 1869. Of this union three children were born. They are 
Virgil A., who is now on a ranche in Montana; Guy M., who is attending 
the Flint High School, and Mabel C. After the death of his first wife 
our subject again married, the lady of his choice being Harriet Clark, 
of Tuscola. She has borne him one son, Corrie Dale.




j