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Ott Neubert Wilson
OTT NEUBERT WILSON, of Kittanning, the leading shoe merchant of that
borough, has been engaged in that business most of his active life and in that
connection alone has attained high standing in Armstrong county. But he is
probably better known as owner of one of the finest stock farms in this
section, his property in East Franklin township having been developed under
his direction into a notable establishment.Mr. Wilson is a native son of Armstrong county, born May 22, 1863, in Manor
township. His grandparents, Robert and Eleanor (Hilburn) Wilson, were possibly
natives of Ireland, and had a family of thirteen children. He was a pioneer
farmer in Manor township, Armstrong Co., Pa., owning 200 acres of land. He
died when about sixty years old, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was
buried in Manor cemetery. He married a second time, but had no children by
that union.Isaac Newton Wilson, son of Robert, was born near manor Church in Manor
township, and there received his education. He had considerable musical
ability, and taught music, but farming was his principal occupation through
life. He married Clarissa Bowser, also a native of manor township, daughter of
Matthias and Margaret (Williams) Bowser, pioneer settlers of the township, and
they have had the following children, all born in Manor township: Margaret
died when three days old; Alvin E. is a farmer of manor township; Ott Neubert
is mentioned below; Edwin is deceased; Olive is deceased; Charles R. lives at
Erie, Pa.; William F. lives at Franklin, Pa.; Harry M. is also a resident of
Franklin; Clara T. is the wife of H. F. Iseman, a farmer of Manor township.
The father died in Manor township in 1864, at the comparatively early age of
thirty-eight years, and the mother continued to reside there, dying at the age
of fifty-four. They were members of the Kittanning M. E. church, and he was a
Republican on political questions.Ott Neubert Wilson received his schooling in Manor township, and began work
as a boatman on the Allegheny river, later working as such between Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati and Louisville. He than became clerk in a general store in Beaver
county, Pa., whence he came to Kittanning to take a position in his present
store, than conducted by J. S. Bowser & Co., Mr. Bowser being his uncle.
After a year and a half as clerk he bought the stock, continuing the business
on his own account. He has remained at the same location, No. 217 Market
street, and by his satisfactory business methods has enlarged his patronage
steadily until now he has the leading store of the kind in the borough, with
an up-to-date stock which includes all the standard grade shoes in the market
for which there is any demand in this locality. The manner in which he has
built up his trade within the last few years gives evidence of his alert
business qualities, which, however, have not been confined to this one field.In 1906 Mr. Wilson bought 130 acres of fine land a mile and a half from
Kittanning, in East Franklin township, and this place, in his hands, has been
converted into one of the finest stock farms in the county. He has made
liberal outlay for improvements and development, but timely operations and
good judgment have put the establishment on a profitable basis, and it is not
only a good business investment, but affords Mr. Wilson much pleasure. Its
proper management requires skillful attention to details, and entails much
thought, yet the results are such that he can view them with pride, and he
feels his efforts are well paid. There are now three distinct sets of
buildings on the place, each including a modest but comfortable tenant house,
occupied by employees. Six stables contain forty box stalls, and all of the
equipment is thoroughly up-to-date, built and cared for on the lines which
modern experience has shown to be most advisable for the care of high-class
stock. Mr. Wilson makes yearly trips abroad for the purchase of a carload of
thoroughbred Percheron and Belgian horses, which he breeds and deals in,
making his sales in all parts of the United States. He also has a fine herd of
Jersey cattle, raises Berkshire hogs, and in 1913 put up a modern poultry
house, 10 by 36 feet in dimensions, at a cost of $250, to afford facilities
for raising White Wyandotte chickens. He has made many experiments advocated
by progressive agriculturists, with successful results; was the first man in
Armstrong county to raise alfalfa, of which he cuts three crops a year; and
has planted seven acres of apples and peaches on his place, now having a
promising orchard. He is prominently associated with the various organizations
which promote such interests and advocate wise progress, belonging to the
Percheron Society of America, the American Importers’ and Breeders’
Association, of Plainfield, Ohio, the American Association of Importers and
Breeders of Belgian Draft Horses, and the Kittanning Fair Association, of
Kittanning, Pa., of which latter he is president. Fraternally he belongs to
the Masons and Elks. Though not active in politics he is interested in the
success of the Republican party, and his religious connection is with the
First Presbyterian Church of Kittanning, of which he is an elder.On March 23, 1893, Mr. Wilson married Lurene Rumbaugh, a native of
Kittanning, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Rumbaugh, and they reside at No.
315 North McKean street, Kittanning. They have had three children: Elizabeth,
Josephine and John, the latter dying when seven months old. The daughters are
attending public school.Source: Pages 591 – 592 , Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past
and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed January 1999 by Connie Mateer for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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