John Wilson and Son

active Boston and Cambridge, about 1853 - 1879

BiographyJohn Wilson, for many years at the head of the University Press, died at his home in Newton Centre, Monday night, aged 77.
Mr. Wilson was without question the master of his trade--the foremost printer, not only in Massachusetts, but in the country, Hew was bred to the business from his boyhood, his father, named John Wilson before him, having brought with him from Scotland a sound way of living, a shrewd business head and a thorough knowledge of printing.
He was established with his son about fifty years ago, at 22 School street, Boston, under the firm name of John Wilson & Son. The business increasing, they moved to 15 Water street, and in 1865, at the close of the Civil War, brought their establishment to this city. Here they went into a building in Holyoke street, just vacated by Welch, Bigelow & Co., the then proprietors of te University Press, who moved to larger quarters in Brattle square.
John Wilson & Son stayed in Holyoke street for more than ten years, the senior member of the firm dying during that period. In 1879, Welch, Bigelow & Co. failed, and Mr. Wilson bought out their plant and united the two concerns as "The University Press--John Wilson & Son." He abandoned the old quarters in Holyoke street, doing all the work in Brattle square. Associated with him at this time was Charles F. Wentworth, who later dropped out of the printing business entirely.
There they remained until, in 1894, they met with financial difficulties and the firm was made into a corporation. Mr. Wilson remained with it as president for a year, and then retired from active business. The ancient printing house, which has been in existence under the name of the University Press since 1639, and in maintaining whose high standards he had no small share, moved in 1894 into a large building on Nutting place.
At this office was first introduced in the United States what is known as the Scotch face of letter press type, brought here from foreign foundries by the Wilsons. The elder Wilson was a man of liberal scholarly attainments, and among other lines of his literary work he was deeply versed in scriptural research.
Many of the tracts of the Unitarian denomination were written by the senior Mr. Wilson, and for many years his printing office was the denominational headquarters for the issue of Unitarian books and literature. Leading statesmen, such as Edward Everett and Robert C. Winthrop, relied always, in the printing of their literary work, on the quality and accuracy of the Wilson press.
During his connection with the University Press many remarkable books were produced there. Many works of Holmes, Sparks, Prescott, Ticknor, Palfrey, Judge Story, Quincy, Everett, Hilliard, Dana, Longfellow, Hawthorne, Whittier, Emerson and Lowell were first issued from this press, and gave it a reputation for accuracy and scholarship.
Among the works issued by the Wilsons was the senior Wilson's compendium on punctuation, his "Treatise on Punctuation," though issued a long time since, being considered at the present day the standard in schools, colleges and printing offices. Mr. Wilson was born in Scotland, and came with his father to this country when twenty-one years of age. A widow and one son, Horace Wilson, connected with the Edison establishment at Glen Ridge, N. J. survive him.
The Boston Herald said, editorially, Wednesday:
"The death of John Wilson, who was formerly at t the head of the old printing establishment of John Wilson & Son., University Press, Cambridge, removes a fine type of the accomplished printer, who united with his thorough knowledge of his art an intelligence and fidelity that won for him the esteem of those who had occasion to avail themselves of his services. a great many distinguished literary men and women found their copy improved after it had been set up under John Wilson's supervision."
The funeral was held Thursday afternoon in the chapel at Mount Auburn Cemetery. There was a very large attendance of friends and employees. Although he had not been connected with the University Press for a number of years, the establishment was closed for the afternoon out of respect to his memory.
The service was of a simple nature, and was conducted by Rev. Dr. S. M. Crothers, of the First Parish Church. Organ music was played by Organist Warren A. Locke, of Appleton Chapel. The burial was in the family lot. "John Wilson Dead - One of the Foremost Printers of the Country--Long Connected With the University Press." Cambridge Tribune, Volume XXVI, Number 11, 16 May 1903, p. 6

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Last Updated8/7/24

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