Squire J. W. Wilson, a prominent resident of Middleton, was born March 23, 1834, in South Carolina. His father, Ashley H., was born in same state, February 10, 1810. He immigrated to Tennessee in 1840 and one year later moved to Tippah County, Miss., where he still lives an old and respected man and extensive farmer. The mother, Martha P. (Janes) Wilson, was born in 1810 and departed this life in April, 1872. She was the daughter of John Janes, an Englishman. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Wilson, was a native of Ireland. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and worked at that occupation until 1854. He then taught school until date of the late war. He entered the Confederate service in 1861 in the Thirty-second Mississippi. He was appointed recruiting officer and returned to Mississippi where he organized a company, being elected first lieutenant of the same. They were called Company K, Tenth Mississippi Regiment. He was wounded September 20, 1863, at the battle of Chickamauga, receiving a shot through the right thigh which disabled him for further service and since that time for manual labor. After the restoration of peace, he resumed teaching which, with the exception of two years in the drug business, he has followed altogether. He was married in November, 1862, to Martha A., the daughter of Joseph and Annie Janes. To the union six children were born, four of whom are still living: Cora, Maurice, John and Joseph Ashley. Mr. Wilson is a good man and respected citizen, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is connected with the Masonic order and a true Democrat. In August, 1876, he was elected magistrate and has retained the office since that time. He is also notary public for this end of the county.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”