My Genealogy Hound

Judge John H. Wilson was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., March 12, 1827. His father, Benjamin Wilson, was born and grew to manhood in Virginia, and when of age went to Missouri where he married Virginia Johnson, a native of Virginia. Mr. Wilson was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and after coming to Missouri farmed in Cape Girardeau County until his death in 1869. John H. passed his boyhood and youth in his native county, and at the age of twelve began to clerk in a mercantile store, and at the age of twenty went into business with his uncle, in which he continued until the outbreak of the war. In 1860 he was elected judge of the county, which position he held several years. He voted against the adoption of the Drake Constitution in 1865, and the same year moved to Water Valley, Miss., where he engaged in the mercantile business until 1881. He was there elected mayor of the town for three years, and held the office of Yalobusha County treasurer for two years. In 1881 he sold his business, and, coming to Franklin County, Ark., located at Mulberry, and established a mercantile business, which he conducted until 1886. After being elected county judge of this county he took up his residence in Ozark, proving himself to be an invaluable acquisition to the community. Mr. Wilson has held several local offices, and while in Water Valley for many years was president of the school board of directors, and was one of the prime factors in the building of the best public school in Mississippi. He was married in 1851, in Cape Girardeau County, to Miss M. S. Harris, a native of that county, and daughter of Dr. E. W. Harris. This lady died at Mulberry in 1865, leaving eight children: E. H., of Little Rock; Mollie E., wife of A. P. Jernberg, of Water Valley; Benjamin W.; Sallie J., wife of Jesse Miller, of Oregon; Samuel G., John W., Anna May and Lee Gray. In September, 1886, Mr. Wilson married Mrs. Tosie Pickel, daughter of Gen. Jesse Miller. Mrs. Wilson is a native of this county, where she was reared and educated, and she and Judge Wilson are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the Knights of Honor. He is one of the stockholders of the Canning Company in Ozark, and one of the original promoters of the enterprise.