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Wilson (JAMES an American)

JAMES, an American agriculturist; born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Aug. 16, 1835. He removed with his father to the United States in 1852, and in 1855 settled in Iowa. He served three terms in the Iowa Legislature, being speaker for two years. He was elected to the 43d, 44th and 48th Congresses.

In 1891 he was Professor of Agriculture in the Iowa Agricultural College. In 1897 he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture in the cabinet of President McKinley; was reappointed in 1901; and retained by President Roosevelt on his accession the same year. He died in 1920.