This is an ever growing list of Union County Biographies. If there is just the page listed it is one that I have transcribed. Otherwise, it will have the name of the person who donated the biographies.If you have any biographies you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.

JAMES B. WILSON. - Doubtless the agricultural products of the soil and the revenues from the herds are the largest sources of wealth that Union county possesses, and a very progressive and intelligent class of people have not been slow to take advantage of these things and they have been developed to a good degree in the hands of skillful and energetic men of ability. Among this number it is fitting to make especial mention of the gentleman, whose name appears above, both because of the individual capabilities and virtues with which he is so richly endowed, and also because of the results of his wisely bestowed labors as well as because of the high standing that he has among his fellows.

Salt Lake City, Utah, is his native place and the date of his birth is July 28, 1860, being the son of James B. and Jane (McGavin) Wilson, respected citizens of that municipality. The early life of our subject was spent in a smelter, after he had arrived at sufficient years to be of service in that industry, and he remained in the same employ until 1879, when he accompanied his parents to Baker City and soon thereafter he inaugurated action on life's field of endeavor for himself; but it was not until 1890 that he found his way to the valley of the North Powder river, settling first on the Baker county side of the river. Not long after that, however, he purchased his present place of one section of land which lies three and one half miles southwest from the town of North Powder. His land is of good quality and all fenced and improved in an excellent manner, having a commodious barn and good house and other accessories to a first class farm and stock ranch. In addition to this he owns one hundred and sixty acres of timber land. While he devotes many of the fertile acres of his estate to the production of the various fruits and grains that are indigenous to this latitude and especial section he also pays particular attention to handling stock, horses being the kind of which he is most fond. He owns some fine specimens of the equine race among which may be mentioned a superb stallion of full Percheron blood. All the affairs of the ranch and herds are conducted on business principles and the thrift and industry and order of the owner are everywhere manifest and especially in the prosperity that has attended him in all of his endeavors.

Mr. Wilson married Miss Dora A., daughter of Thomas and Alice O'Bryant, of Wolf creek near North Powder, on January 22, 1892, and to grace the happy union there have been born three children as follows: Bessie A., James A., and Doris M. Fraternally, Mr. Wilson is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World at North Powder and is popular in this as in all of his relations with his fellows. His father died in Baker City in 1893 but the mother is still living near North Powder. Mr. Wilson is one of the leading agriculturists and stockmen of his part of the county and one of Union's most substantial and enterprising citizens, who has ever manifested both upright principles and integrity as well as real intrinsic worth of character and in generous measure there has been given to him the confidence of his neighbors and fellows.

It was on April 30, 1867, near Cove, in this county, that Lee A. was born to James A. and Susana (Owens) Wilson. The father crossed the plains with his parents from Mississippi to California in 1852, using ox teams for the journey. In 1860 he came to the Willamette valley and there he married in 1861, his wife having come from Missouri via New York and Panama about 1858, settling in McMinnville, where the marriage occurred. Eighteen hundred and sixty-four marks the date of their advent to this county and here they took up their settlement near Cove, being among the very earliest settlers in the valley. Our subject was educated there and remained with his aprents until 1884, then started in for himself in the race of life, making the start with but little capital save a good honest heart filled with courage and birght hopes, a boundless energy and plenty of work for two strong hands to perform. He farmed in the valley until 1884, and then went to Idaho basin and followed mining until 1891, when he returned to the valley. It was in 1893 that he came to the vicinity of Medical Springs and here on December 25, 1894, occured the marriage of our subject and Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, the daughter of Peter and Ellen Weaver. Mrs. Wilson's parents crossed the plains in 1867 with ox teams from the state of Kansas, settling in the Willamette valley. The following year they came to the vicinity of Cove and there Mrs. Wilson lived until 1875, coming thence to their present home, where they have a quarter section of good land, well improved and some stock. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ or Latter Day Saints. He is a substantial citizen and has wrought here for many years for the advancement of the county.