Henry Erb Wilson    

HENRY ERB WILSON, merchant and distiller. This gentleman takes high rank as one of the most successful business men of Meadville. He is a son of Samuel and Nancy (McDonald) Wilson, natives of Belfast, Ireland. In 1843 the father of our subject came over to America and located upon Government land near Hamilton, Ontario, engaging at once in agriculture. At this date the present prosperous city of Hamilton contained a population not exceeding a dozen permanent citizens, and what are now center lots of the city could have been purchased at the rate of $4 per acre. Previous to his coming to America, Samuel Wilson had married and was the father of three children, and after three years of prosperity in the land of his adoption, he returned to the old country and brought over his family to the home he had prepared for them, and for more than forty years he has continued to reside and prosper upon the lands be originally took up. To the union of Samuel and Nancy Wilson were born six children: Mary Ann, married to Louis Mills, Esq., of Hamilton, Ontario; James, deceased; Lizzie C., residing with Henry E.; Mag­gie, married to John Anderson, Esq., of Hamilton, Ontario; Hugh, residing in Wentworth County, Ontario, and Henry E., who was born on his father’s farm. June 2, 1853. Until twelve years of age he lived the usual life of a well-to-do, industrious farmer’s son. He then went to reside with his brother-in-law, Louis Mills, with whom he remained three years, the greater part of the time being spent in attendance at an excellent literary academy. At fifteen he was influenced by reports of oil operations to go to Oil City, Penn., and was inspired with an ambitious hope to acquire a fortune. He remained there nine years, serving in the capacity of clerk for various parties. In 1872 and 1873 he visited the home of his parents. In the latter part of this year we find him employed as clerk in Meadville with Tracy Colt, in whose service he continued four years. Here, on a borrowed capital of $150, he assumed the lease of the property, corner of Chestnut and Water Streets, known as the St. Cloud. At this writing he continues to occupy these premises, conducting thereat a general restaurant business, and in addition a railroad ticket brokerage office, he being a well-known member of the Ticket Brokers’ Association of the United States. In January, 1882, our subject purchased the Peiffer Distillery, and is now engaged in the manufacture of that celebrated and popular brand of liquor made at that establishment. In May, 1382, he still added to his business interests by opening a wholesale liquor store on Chestnut Street, and becoming a heavy importer of the best foreign stock. By dealing always in reliable goods and paying strict and unremitting attention to the advancement of his commercial interests, Mr. Wilson has succeeded in thoroughly establishing himself as one of the solid business men of the city of Meadville. Mr. Wilson is an A. F. & A. M., a member of the I. 0. 0. F., the K. of P. and Royal Arcanum. 

History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 774-775 More Crawford County History Books Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.

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