This is for Melissa! From the Industrial and Souvenir Edition of the Advance, Monticello, Arkansas, Tuesday December 17, 1907....... H. M. Wilson One of the eminently successful business men of Monticello is H. M. Wilson. Mr. Wilson was born in Tipton County, Tennessee, January 25, 1851, being a son of Hugh and Jane (McQuiston) Wilson. His parents moved with him to this county when he was about two years old. Mr. Wilson's early life was spent on a farm a few miles north of Monticello and the only educational advantages he ever had were the three months schools of the day. When he was about 25 years old he came to Monticello and opened a small grocery store, allying himself with J. N. Harper. The young men had just $550 capital each. They continued in business together for over 23 years or until Mr. Harper's death, which occurred in 1901. After 12 or 15 years in the grocery business exclusively, the firm embarked in the general mercantile business. The dry goods department at first was really a separate business. There were several partners and it went under the name of Wood, McCain & Co. After a few years, however, and a number of changes, Mr. Harper and Mr. Wilson bought out the other interests and consolidated the entire business under the firm name of Harper & Wilson, which arrangement lasted until Mr. Harper's death, Mr. Wilson having charge of the grocery house and Mr. Harper of the dry goods. After Mr. Harper's death the business was conducted without change for about two years when a dissolution was effected and Mr. Wilson became sole propietor, thus establishing the firm of H. M. Wilson & Co., as it stands today. Being unable to give his personal attention to both departments of the business, Mr. Wilson about three years ago, employed Mr. J. N. Ross of Russellville to take charge of the dry goods store. Mr. Ross is an experienced and practical dry goods man. He at once gave that department, which had been suffered to deteriorate somewhat, a thorough shake up, installed a large line of the most up-to-date merchandise that could be obtained, and now has one of the leading dry goods trades of the town. They are exclusive agents for Statesman and Thoroughbred hats, Criterion and Xtragood clothing and the Stacy-Adams line of fine shoes. They also handle the Star Brand Shoes. In the gorocery and furnishing department, some of Mr. Wilson's leading brands are his Gold Leaf Flour and James & Graham and Tennessee wagons. Mr. Wilson is a man of untiring industry and energy. He has always made it a rule of his life to attendd strictly to business and by this policy coupled with a high grade of business ability and scrupulous honesty, he has built up one of the largest business interests of the town. His yearly business now will average $100,000 or more. He is a heavy stockholder and director in both banks and in the Drew Oil Mill. He is also a stockholder in the Monticello Cotton Mill and is interested in a large wholesale gorcery business at Corsicana, Texas, of which his brother has charge. He is a leading member of the Associate Reform Presbyterian church. He was married January 25, 1893 to Miss Fanny Bussey of Monticello. ************************************ This Wilson family along with the McQuistons are tied in many ways to the family of my mother and the mother of Wayne Groce. Andrew McQuiston moved his family to Corsicana, Texas. These families are tied to the Owens, Miller, McKinstry, Fee, Huey, McCain and other early families of Drew County. Carolyn