Robert Jackson Wilson, vice-president and general manager of the Peavy-Byrnes Lumber Co., Kinder, La., was born at Hope, Ark., Aug. 23, 1869, a son of William Henry and Camilla (Brown) Wilson, both natives of South Carolina. The family moved to Texas when the subject of this sketch was an infant, where the father passed away shortly afterwards. Later Mrs. Wilson married G. W. Whitfield, who lived at DeKalb, Tex., where he was post master for many years. It was there that Robert J. Wilson was reared and educated in the public schools of the locality.

On leaving school Mr. Wilson went to Texarkana, Ark., becoming a day laborer in the lumber business. He later secured employment with the Frost-Johnson Lumber Co., and remained with this firm for 20 years, serving in various capacities, and finally becoming a stockholder in the company. In 1909, he sold his interest in this company, and became a stockholder in the Peavy-Byrnes Lumber Co. He is now vice-president and general manager of this firm, residing at Kinder, La., the location of the plant.

Mr. Wilson is what may be styled "a self made man," having risen from the bottom to a position of prominence in his business. He is an able executive and a man of splendid business qualifications. He is also a stockholder in the National Bank of Commerce, at Houston, Tex. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, also member of the Odd Fellows, and in church faith a Methodist.

Mr. Wilson has been twice married; first in 1891 to Miss Mary Ellen Few, who passed away in 1906 at Mansfield. She bore him 3 children, namely, Ruth, Paul, and Walten. In 1908 he led to the altar Mrs. Virginia Few. No children have been born to this union.