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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
MITCHEL WILSON. The thriving community in which is located the busy little city of Oskaloosa is indebted for its prosperity to the business men as well as the sturdy tillers of the soil, and among the number is the subject of this biographical notice. He is engaged in merchandising, and deals in dry-goods, notions, ladies and gents' furnishing goods, ladies' cloaks and dress goods, and since embarking in the business in 1862 has been more than ordinarily successful. Mitchel Wilson was born near Wilmington, Clinton Co., Ohio, June 30, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and Ann B. (Huston) Wilson, both natives of Ohio and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Wilson left Ohio when nineteen years of age and came to Iowa, locating in Oskaloosa. He arrived here in the fall of the year, and in the following spring started a little store. He opened a coal bank in the winter of 1852-53, and delivered coal to the citizens of Oskaloosa. Prior to that time this article had been sold by the bushel, Mr. Wilson being the first to weigh out that commodity to purchasers. In the fall of that year he sold out his store, and in the spring of 1854 engaged as salesman for Shoemake & Montgomery, general merchants. He became a partner in the firm in the fall of the following year, and that connection continued until the spring of 1857, when the terrible crisis which came all over the country compelled them, with many others, to close business. Mr. Wilson then engaged with Benjamin Roop, as bookkeeper and cashier, and remained with him until 1869. He then went into the Oskaloosa branch of the State Bank of Iowa as Book-keeper, and was soon thereafter promoted Cashier, which position he continued to hold until 1861. Afterward he went to Denver in the interest of Mr. Roop, remaining two years. On returning to Oskaloosa Mr. Wilson opened a store, and for two years was associated with John B. Gaunt, under the firm name of Gaunt & Wilson, general dry-goods merchants. Two years later he returned to the bank, and was with it until it was merged into the National State Bank, when he was chosen as its first Cashier. Two years later he again embarked in mercantile business, and has continued alone, with the exception of one year, until the present time, He carries an average;stock of $15,000. Our subject was married in the spring of 1863, at Oskaloosa, to Miss Ella, daughter of Nathan Crawford. She was born in Crawford County, Ind., and has become the mother of three children, two daughters and a son, namely: Cora A., Zena A. and Walter G., all born in Oskaloosa. Mr. Wilson and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics our subject is Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the Board of Education of Oskaloosa, and is serving his fourth term of three years each. He was a member of the City Council of Oskaloosa during 1863-65, and City Treasurer through 1867- 69. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined that society in 1858. He is a director and Vice President of the Iowa Life and Endowment Insurance Company, and is a representative and respected citizen.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy