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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899

              CAPTAIN THOMAS WILSON was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, about
           1840, and began sailing along the coast at an early age. He came
           to the lakes in 1855, and in 1856, during the one season, he had
           worked his way up from wheelsman of the Manhattan to second
           officer of that craft. The following season he shipped on the
           steamer Mineral Rock, where he remained until he became chief
           officer, and in 1863 he served as pilot and mate of the side-
           wheeler Illinois, in 1864 resuming command of the passenger and
           freight steamer Mineral Rock. For eight years CAPTAIN WILSON was
           in command of the passenger and freight steamer Meteor, on the
           route from Buffalo to Lake Superior, and for four years he did
           all the carrying trade of the Minnesota Iron Company; the first
           cargoes of rails had to be handled on the beach, this being at a
           time before docks and railroads were constructed. In 1873
           CAPTAIN WILSON had built at St. Clair, Mich., the first boat of
           his present large line, and named her D. M. Wilson, after his
           only son, then a small boy. The Hiawatha and Minnehaha were
           shortly afterward built at Gibraltar, Mich., and the following
           large vessels, built to the order of the Wilson Transit Company,
           CAPT. THOMAS WILSON managing owner, have been constructed in
           sequence here given: Tacoma, Wallula, Kasota, George Spencer,
           Tower, Spokane, Missoula, Sitka, Yakima, Wadena, Olympia, Yukon,
           Yuma and W. D. Rees; a large steel steamer was completed for the
           season of 1897. Since 1875 CAPTAIN WILSON has remained on shore
           looking after his large vessel interests and controlling the
           movements of the Wilson Transit line fleet.
              In 1872 the Captain married Miss MARY MORRIS, daughter of
           DAVID MORRIS, who was the first man to ship coal out of Cleve-
           land, and to them have been born three children: DAVID, who died
           at the age of fourteen years; and ANNABEL and MABEL, who are now
           finishing their education.

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