Date:  May 20, 2008  |  

The town of Wilson in Mississippi County was founded by logging and agricultural baron Robert E. Lee Wilson in 1886 as a company town. It was built in the Tudor style, with the town’s merchants, from the bank to the café and filling station, boasting similar façades. Wilson’s philosophy of diversification made him a key force in many industries, including real estate, railroads and manufacturing, and when he died in 1933, he owned most of the businesses and all of the residences in Wilson. In the 1950s, the homes were sold to Lee Wilson & Co.The town of Wilson in Mississippi County was founded by logging and agricultural baron Robert E. Lee Wilson in 1886 as a company town. It was built in the Tudor style, with the town’s merchants, from the bank to the café and filling station, boasting similar façades. Wilson’s philosophy of diversification made him a key force in many industries, including real estate, railroads and manufacturing, and when he died in 1933, he owned most of the businesses and all of the residences in Wilson. In the 1950s, the homes were sold to Lee Wilson & Co. employees, and today, towering trees and architecture from a bygone era dominate this picturesque village.