Wilsonm
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
MELVIN P. WILSON is at the head
of a fine industry, that of fruit raising, and his excellent fifteen acre
orchard, which annually produces large quantities of first class fruit
for the Spokane and Seattle markets, shows his executive ability and skill
in the line. In addition to shipping hundreds of boxes to the various
markets and also supplying great quantities of dried fruit, he does a large
local trade. The farm is located about three miles west from Lakeside,
on the banks of Lake Chelan and was taken from the government domain by
our subject in 1891. He has bestowed his labors with wisdom in the
intervening years and the magnificent showing testifies to his gratifying
success.
Melvin P. Wilson was born in Davenport, Iowa,
on December 15, 1852, the son of Peter and Mary J. (Rouser) Wilson, natives
of Pennsylvania. The father's people were Quakers and were prominent
patriots in the Revolution. The mother's people were of Dutch stock
and fought for American independence. The father died in June, 1852
and the widow married Charles L. Leymour. The family remained in
Davenport until 1864, when they removed to Clinton, where our subject completed
his education in the high schools and the Clinton business college.
He learned the tinner trade as soon as he left school and followed the
same until 1877 when he embarked in the hardware business until 1880, when
he returned to his trade again. In 1887, Mr. Wilson was employed
on the circulation department of the Chicago Daily News, then spent a year
in Kansas, after which he was three years in Colorado. Next came
a journey to Spokane and all this time he was occupied with working at
his trade. He located at Waterville and in May, 1891, he settled
on his present place. He has been here since and is one of the prominent
men of the fruit industry of the section. Mr. Wilson was formerly
a Republican, but of late years he has developed more independent ideas
and is now classed as a thorough independent. He has the respect
and esteem of all who know him and his labors have not only produced good
results in actual returns of fruit, but have stimulated many others to
this good work.