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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899

          Page 48 - 51
          
              GEORGE B. WILSON, one of the most prominent and
           popular engineers on the lakes, and who has had charge
           of the machinery of many of the finest steamers, was
           born in Sacket's Harbor, N.Y., a port associated with
           the earliest history of lake navigation, on December 23,
           1857.  He is the son of John S. and Emeline (Chapman)
           Wilson, both of whom were natives of New York City, 
           his father having been born there in 1804 and his 
           mother in 1812, their marriage ceremony, however, 
           having been performed in Sacket's Harbor.  His pater-
           nal grandparents came to the United States from Liver-
           pool, England, early in the eighteenth century, settling
           in New York City.
               Mr. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, attended
           the public schools first in Sacket's Harbor, and having
           removed with his parents to Bay City, Mich., in 1869,
           he there finished his education, graduating from the
           high school.  After leaving school he went to work for
           the Ray Iron Works, of Bay City, and in 1875 he received
           engineer's license, and became chief of the tug Witch of
           the West.  He also owned the Nellie Booth.  He was then
           appointed first assistant on the steamer B. W. Jenness;
           and ran the tug I. U. Masters.  He also became first
           assistant on the steamer Iron Age, and was on the 
           steamer Rube Richards two seasons.  He then entered
           the employ of R. P. Fitzgerald & Co., as chief engineer
           of the steamer Barnum, transferring to the Valentine
           and Frank L Vance in the order named.  After working
           in Chicago the next winter for A. A. Bigelow & Co., 
           he became chief engineer of the steamer Robert Holland.
           He then entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Trans-
           portation Co., as chief engineer of the steamer Tacoma,
           and the next season brought out new the steamer Saranac.
               In the spring of 1890 Mr. Wilson brought out the
           new ferry steamers Superior and Duluth, plying between
           those ports, becoming chief engineer of the elevator
           "D" that fall.  After passing a season as chief engin-
           eer of the steamer Passadena he joined the steamer
           Charles Eddy as chief.  In the spring of 1894 he was
           appointed chief engineer of the Soo City, and in 1893
           of the Charles Stewart Parnell, holding that office
           two years.  In 1897 he became chief engineer of the
           tug Dennis Bros., taking up his lake life the next
           season as chief engineer of the steamer Selwyn Eddy,
           in which he experienced some pretty rough weather
           during the December gales of that year.
               Socially, he is an honored member of the Marine
           Engineers Beneficial Association, has been vice-
           president and corresponding secretary of the Detroit
           branch, but now belongs to Cleveland No. 2.  He also
           belongs to the Order of Foresters, and to the Ancient
           Order of United Workmen.
               Mr. Wilson chose Miss Annie, daughter of William
           and Annie Stander, of Detroit, Mich., to be his wife,
           and the marriage ceremony was performed on January 1,
           1882.  The children born to this union are John S.,
           now attending high school, and George B., also in
           school.  Mr. Wilson has acquired some Chicago real
           estate, the family homestead being No. 2917 South
           Throop street.
           
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