My Genealogy Hound

JAMES ALEXANDER WILSON, builder, Wilkinsburg, was born at Glade Mills, Butler county, Pa., January 25 1852. His grandfather, John Wilson, of County Donegal, Ireland, visited America when a young man, returned home, married Rose Gibson, and remained there until all his children, one daughter and six sons, were born. In 1832 he settled on a farm within a mile of Centreville, Butler county, where he died at the age of seventy-five. His children were Bethia (who died unmarried), Charles, Ezekiel, Samuel, William, Joseph and John. Joseph, who was born in 1814, kept a store at Glade Mills, and bought a farm near there, which he cultivated several years. When a young man he worked ten years on the canal, and was four years employed as driver and clerk by a Pittsburgh merchant. Since 1886 he has dwelt in Wilkinsburg. He has always been in religion a Methodist, and in politics a democrat. In 1849 he married Sarah Umstead, who was born near Harrisburg, of Dutch descent. She died in November, 1884, aged fifty-two years. Alfred, the eldest child, resides in Butler, and the others, J. A., Margaret (Mrs. James Wike), Maria, Joseph and Samuel D., in Wilkinsburg.

James A. Wilson was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. When seventeen years old he began work as a carpenter, and in 1876 began contracting at Butler. Three years later he came to Wilkinsburg, and in 1885 opened a lumber yard, and deals in all kinds of carpenter’s, supplies. He is now a member of the borough council. He is a republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. December 30, 1873, he married Samantha Ada, daughter of Malcomb Graham, of Scotch descent. Mrs. Wilson died in December, 1887, at the age of thirty-two, leaving a daughter, Luella May, born May 9,1876. In 1889, Mr. Wilson married Miss Margaret J., daughter of John Hamnett. Jr., a prominent leather-dealer of Pittsburgh, Pa.