Genealogy and Family History Publications
About John Alexander Wilson
From Niagara County, New York, page 811:
"John A. Wilson, who is a farmer and fruit grower in the town of Newfane, belongs to one of the old and representative pioneer families of Niagara county that was founded here by his great-grandfather, Alexander Wilson, who came from Saratoga County, N. Y. John A. Wilson was born in the town of Newfane, Niagara county, April 16, 1881, a son of Harvey and Elizabeth (Marlett) Wilson, and a grandson of Stephen Wilson. Stephen Wilson was born Sept. 23, 1800, in Somerset county, N. Y., and accompanied his father to Niagara county. He lived for a time in the town of Somerset on the farm that is now owned by Delos Davis, then moved to the town of Wilson and from there to the town of Newfane. For his day he was a man of large fortune, at one time owning 11,000 acres of valuable land in Niagara county. He had much to do with early agricultural development and was a citizen of stable character as well as large estate. He died in Niagara county, Sept. 7, 1881. To his marriage with Eleanora Seeley, who was born in Seneca county, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1806, eleven children were born, Harvey P., the father of John A. Wilson, being sixth in order of birth.
"Harvey P. Wilson was born in the town of Wilson, Niagara county, but later accompanied his parents to the town of Newfane. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil was and remained until its close, during the whole three years enduring many hardships but always remaining at the post of duty. After his honorable discharge he returned to the town of Newfane and engaged in farming during the rest of his active life. His death occurred in 1918, at the age of eighty years. He married Elizabeth Marlett, who survives and now resides in California. They had four children: W. J., who lives at Buffalo; Kate, who is the wife of W. L. Phillips, resides at Lake road; Franklin H., who died in California at the age of forty-four years; and John A.
"John A. Wilson attended school in the town of Newfane and at Appleton, and remained assisting his father until he was twenty-two years old, when he purchased a part of the old Wilson homestead and afterward operated it for fifteen years, removing then to his present farm which has occupied his attention ever since. Mr. Wilson was married in 1903 to Ida May Kinyon, a daughter of the late Edwin Kinyon, who was well known and highly esteemed in Niagara county. He was born at Sycamore, De Kalb county, Ill., in 1852, a son of Charles Kinyon, who was a prominent pioneer in the town of Hartland, Niagara county. Edwin Kinyon was a child when his parents came to Hartland, where his early life was spent, but later he became a resident of the village of Appleton, where his death occurred April 1, 1921. He was a member of Somerset Lodge No. 639, F. & A. M., and his funeral services at the grave were conducted by his Masonic brethren. In 1873 he married Arvilla Sharpsteen, who died in 1878, leaving two sons, William and Frank. In 1880 he married second, Harriet Logan, who survives and is the mother of Mrs. Ida May Wilson, and three sons: William, of Newfane; Bert, of Hartland; and Charles, of Appleton.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four children: Franklin C., Nina Bell, Arvilla K. and Lee A."