A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for James Madison Wilson
The 1900 census said he was born in Apr 1832, but the biography below says that he was born in 1831. The web site for Mount Mora Cemetery also says 1831, including a picture of his gravestone, which says 1831 - 1906, so I will go with that. The Mount Mora web site also gives his age at death as 74, which might mean that he was born after June 7 in 1831. In addition, it gives his cause of death as cancer of face.
"History of Buchanan County and the City of St Joseph and Representative Citizens", downloaded from http://members.aol.com/buchanancomo/wilsonja.html, 28 Jul 2004:
JAMES MADISON WILSON, who is practically retired from business life, is a director of the Merchants' Bank of St. Joseph, and has been engaged in the banking business here almost continuously since 1853. Of the bankers now in business in this city, he was the first to engage in the banking business here. A man of superior ability and attainments, he ranks among the foremost business men.
James M. Wilson was born in Howard County, Missouri, in 1831, and is a son of Robert Wilson, who was a distinguished member of the Missouri bar in the pioneer days.
Robert Wilson removed to Howard County, Missouri, about 1820, and later located in Randolph County, the lines of which he laid off. He was a member of the Union Convention of 1860, was appointed United States Senator during the War by Governor Gamble, and served one term as a member of that honorable body. He came to St. Joseph and lived in retirement until his death in 1870. He was born in Abingdon, Virginia, and was a boy when he came to this State, where he was reared and educated for his profession. He married a daughter of Col. John W. Snoddy, who was a prominent citizen and extensive farmer of Howard County, Missouri, where he died. She was born in Madison County, Kentucky, and was young in years when she removed with her parents to Howard County, in 1819. This union resulted in the birth of five children, three sons and two daughters, of which number our subject and one sister, Mrs. R. L. McDonald, are now living. The eldest son, John Wilson, was a lawyer and was associated until his death, in 1857, with J. M. Bassett, of St. Joseph.
James M. Wilson was but a boy when he came to St. Joseph in 1852 and engaged as a clerk in the general store of Donald, Saxton & McDonald. In 1853 Armstrong Beattie came to St. Joseph and started a private bank, the first bank in the city, and employed our subject to keep his books. The latter continued in this position until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, then went West to Montana where he remained until the close of the war. He then returned and has since made his home in St. Joseph, having been identified with many banks as stockholder and director and having engaged in the loan business. It devolved upon him to close up Mr. Beattie's estate in the early "seventies", but 20 years past he has been treasurer of Mount Mora Cemetery, probably the most beautiful cemetery in the State. Although it is in the nature of a charity, as it depends largely on gifts, it has been self-sustaining for a number of years, all money received being expended toward beautifying the grounds and making substantial improvements.
Mr. Wilson is independent in politics, and although frequently importuned has steadfastly refused to accept of city or State offices. He is a man without family, never having married, and belongs to no secret orders. He is liberal in religious views, although greatly interested in church work.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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