The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-05

has honored very lew III q IKE li..--..or.
conferred upon Colonel McCook the de-
gree of doctor of laws.
Colonel McCook settled down to the
nractice of law In New York city, and
at once began to take high rank in the
profession. His practice grew large and
lucrative, and upon his opinions many
1veiehty matters are decided. He mar
ried a daughter of Henry M. Alexander,
tbe head of the firm of which he has
long been member. Colonel McCook is
an elder in the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain church and is active in the prac-
tical and benevolent work OF the church.
He ia also a member of the Metropolitan,
Citv. Union, New York Athletic, Har-
ward Kenyon, Ohio and Tuxedo clubs,
the Bar association and the Military Or
der of the Loyal Legion.
Ex-coNGRESSMAN JAMES WILSON,
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
Ex-Congressman James Wilson Of
Iowa. to whom President Mckinley ten
dered the agricultural portfolio, is a
man well fitted for the position which
he is to fill. He is not native OF Amer
lea, but from the time he was 16 years
old his life and work have been devoted
to the interests of his adopted country,
and particularly in the line OF her agri-
cultural development
Mr.. Wilson was born in Ayrshire,
Scotland, Aug. 10, 1885, and came, with
his parents, to America in 1851. The
Wilson's lived first in Connecticut, re-
moving to Iowa when James Wilson
was still in his "teens. F" The education
of the lad was of the common school va
riety, but years of reading and other
self education developed his mind liber-
ally, and by the time he was ri years OF
age he was able to teach school himself.
This he did for number Of years in the
neighborhood Of Buckingham and West
Union, Ia. At this time young Wilson
was very poor, and it was said that he
often went about barefooted because he
could not afford to wear shoes. How
ever, his frugal habits Of life soon en-
abled him to lay by snug fortune, and
he retired from pedagogy and bought
farm. His interest in agricultural pur-
suits led him to devote nearly all his
time to the management Of his fine es-
tate He became prominent in all move
ments for lettering the condition Of
farms.and farmers, and also in the i'm
provement in the breed Of cattle.
Recognizing his peculiar abilities, his
.neighbors elected him to the state legis
lature, where he served three terms. A
few years later-in 1874, in fact-a
larger constituency elected him to the
Forty fourth congress. He was re-elect-
ed for a succeeding term, and after a
lapse of six years was again sent to
Washington, this time as a member Of
the Forty eighth congress.
At the close of his congressional ca
reer he returned to his home in Iowa
and again conferred his attention upon
his beloved hobby, agriculture. Besides
the management Of his magnificent farm
he found leisure to devote much time to
assisting the researches of agricultural
societies and writing largely for agri-
cultural publications.
In further recognition Of his worth
and usefulness in his chosen field of eff
fort. Mr.. Wilson was made professor of
agriculture in the University of Iowa,
at Ames.
Personally Mr.. Wilson is quite popu-
lar. He is AN easy and fluent tallxer in
public or private, and is said to make
friends merely by his pleasing and I'M
affected manner.