History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN 1333
dent of the Grand River Valley Railroad, has been on its board of directors since 1863, and has the distinction of being the oldest living railroad
director in the state. He is a director of the People's National Bank of
Jackson, a director in the Barber State Bank of Vermontville, Michigan,
a director of the Imperial Automobile Company at Jackson, a director of
the Ruby Manufacturing Company, and also president of the Washington
Realty Company, the last two being also business concerns at Jackson.
MAJOR GuY M. WILSON. In the course of an active career covering
less than twenty years, Major Wilson has gained some important distinctions. He is recognized as one of the leading men in the Flint bar, and
his practice as a lawyer connects him with much of the more important
and profitable business in the courts of Genesee county. Major Wilson
has gained his rank by active and efficient service in the Michigan National Guards, and was commander of the Battalion at Flint comprising
a part of the Third Regiment of Michigan Infantry. Mr. Wilson was
one of the officers in command of the state troops at the recent labor
troubles in the northern mining district, and his service there gained many
commendations from the press and the public.
Major Wilson is a native of Genesee county, born at Thetford, November 29, 1875, the second of three children of Samuel J. and Elizabeth
(Perry) Wilson. The mother was born in Canada, but was reared and
educated in Genessee county, and died in I880 at the age of thirty years.
The father is a native of this state, and for many years was engaged in
the manufacture of creameries, but now lives retired at Flint, at the age
of sixty-five. After the death of his first wife he was again married and
had two children by the second union.
Major Wilson grew up in his native county, had a public school education, and entered the law department of the University of Michigan,
where he was graduated LL. B. in 1896. He was then twenty-one years
of age, and at once entered upon the active practice of the law at Flint.
He became associated with James H. McFarland, another of the well
known lawyers of Genesee county. Besides looking after his law practice, Major Wilson is secretary and a director of the Flint Land Company.
His public service has been hardly less important than his professional
activities. He has served as secretary of the school board of Flint for
many years, and also as police commissioner. In I9oo he first enlisted
in the Michigan National Guards as a private. He subsequently became
sergeant, then captain and finally major, the rank which he still holds.
He is commander of the second Battalion of the Third Infantry, comprised of companies at Flint, Cheboygan, Alpena, and Pontiac. Major
Wilson had direct command of the situation as quarantine guard at Lapeer during the outbreak of smallpox in that vicinity. During the summer of 1913 while the strike riots were occurring in the upper peninsula,
Major Wilson and his command were stationed in the Calumet and Wolverine district. It was in the latter district that the chief rioting and
trouble occurred with the dissatisfied miners. While Major Wilson and
his command were stationed there the utmost order and quiet prevailed,
and such was the efficiency of the discipline over the guard that not one
case of complaint was charged to the militia. The conduct of the battalion during these disturbances earned for Major Wilson a reputation
among military men throughout the state and country. Major Wilson
is a Master Mason, and also affiliated with the Foresters, the Knights of
the Maccabees, and the Loyal Guard.
At Flint on February 13, 1901, occurred his marriage with Miss
Bertha Archer, a daughter of George H. and Ama Archer, a family of