Harry Wilson (Louisiana politician)
| Harry D. Wilson | |
|---|---|
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| Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry |
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In office 1916 – January 7, 1948 |
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| Succeeded by |
Millard Perkins (interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 5, 1869 Independence Tangipahoa Parish Louisiana, USA |
| Died | January 7, 1948 (aged 78) Amite, Tangipahoa Parish |
| Resting place | Amite Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Olivette Mintern Toadvin Wilson |
| Relations | Bolivar Edwards Kemp, Jr. (son-in-law) |
| Children |
William Edward Wilson |
| Occupation | Farmer; Politician |
Millard Perkins (interim)
William Edward Wilson
Mennette Estelle Wilson Kemp
John Glen Wilson
Olivette Martha Wilson Garrison
Wilbur Wilson
Justin E. Wilson
Harry D. Wilson (May 5, 1869 – January 7, 1948) was a Democratic politician from Tangipahoa Parish, one of the Florida Parishes of southeastern Louisiana, who served from 1916 until his death as the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry. He was the father of the humorist and chef Justin E. Wilson.
Of Welsh descent, Wilson was a son of Dr. and Mrs. William D. Wilson. In 1856, Dr. Wilson had built a store in Independence, Louisiana, which remained for years the oldest building in the community. Harry Wilson worked in the parish seat of Amite in the general store of the merchant Jacob Stern at a time when Tangipahoa Parish did not yet depend on the strawberry crop. During the 1890s, Wilson was an express messenger for the Illinois Central Railroad. He left that position to pursue a political career.
Affectionately known by voters as "Uncle Harry" or "Mister Harry", Wilson served two nonconsecutive terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1900 to 1904 and again from 1908 to 1912.
Representative Wilson led the move to establish Independence, located five miles south of Amite, as a town. In 1902 and 1903, he corresponded with Governor William Wright Heard regarding incorporation of the community, which at the time had a population of 308. Governor Heard informed Wilson that he considered the three square miles proposed for the new town too much land for a small village and suggested that the tract be reduced. Originally named "Uncle Sam", Independence had begun in 1852 when the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad began operating through the area. Independence was finally proclaimed a town on August 22, 1912.
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