John C. Wilson 1854-1914

WILSON, CHERRY, RICHARDS, ASHCROFT, NELL

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 2/18/2025 at 12:59:56

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, IA
Thursday, August 27, 1914
Page 1

John C. Wilson, a pioneer shoe merchant of Muscatine and one of its most prominent business men, passes away at the Mercy hospital at Davenport at 11:30 a. m. Friday morning. His death was not unexpected and the end looked for by his critical condition for the past several days. Mr. Wilson was a native of the Emeral Isle, having been born at Verntr's Bridge county, Armagh, Ireland, May 15, 1854. His parents, John and Marie Courtney Wilson were of English and Scotch descent. John Wilson, the father of Mr. Wilson, crossed the Atlantic in 1874 and with his family made his way direct to Louisa county, Iowa, locating on a farm that he had purchased prior to his arrival. The decedent after obtaining his education in schools near his native home, entered upon his business career by accepting a clerkship in a generals tore in his native land. In 1873, at the age of 19, he sailed for America and arrived in Muscatine on August of that year. He at once began clerking in the same building in which his shoe store is now located. On the first of June, 1895, he formed a partnership with T.W. Cherry, retired from the firm and Mr. Wilson assumed entire charge of the store. During the later years his son, have assisted him with the business.

Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Louise Cherry, a native of Tullyrone, Ireland, on June 25, 1881, at New York City; to which union there were born four children, all of whom now survive, they being Mrs. Lee L. Richards, Mrs. Lee R. Ashcroft, Robert C. and Thomas W., all of that city. The wife of Mr. Wilson passed away in 1903 at the age of 48.

Mr. Wilson was a member of the Trinity Episcopal church. He was affiliated with a number of fraternal bodies in Muscatine, among them being the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Bankers Reserve, the Modern Woodman of America, and Modern Brotherhood of America.

The surviving brothers and sisters are Robert and William Wilson of Letts, and Mrs. John C. Nell of Lyndon, Kansas, all of whom have arrived in the city. The funeral was held from the residence of Mr. Lee L. Richards, 706 Iowa Avenue, at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon and from the Trinity Episcopal church at 2:30. Interment at Greenwood cemetery.