Biography:

Dr. James Delmage Wilson was born in Morpeth, Ontario on the 8th of November, 1855.  Dr. Wilson was the 7th of 11 children born to William Wilson and the former Julia Matilda Delmage.   His father was a merchant in Morpeth and his siblings were; Mariane Wilson, Sarah Braerton Wilson (who married Dr. John Martin Fraser), William Shire Wilson, Julia Matilda Wilson, Robert Wilson, Margaret Maria Wilson (who died of tuberculosis at the age of 26), John Dolway Wilson, Mariott Wilson (who died on the 1st of June, 1888 of tuberculosis while he was a medical student), George Hudson Wilson and Mehitabel Wilson.

Dr. Wilson graduated from Trinity College in 1875.  According to the 1882 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Wilson joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 13th of May, 1875.   After his graduation from medical school Dr. Wilson started his medical practice in Duart. His medical practice appears in the 1880 Kent County Directory under the Duart listings.  Dr. Wilson moved to Morpeth for a time and then to Bothwell.  His medical practice in Bothwell is listed in the 1885 Ontario Business Directory.

Dr. Wilson married Mary “Emma” Woodworth.  Mrs. Wilson was born in Belmont, Ontario on the 21st of December, 1856.  She was the 4th of 7 children born to Merritt Woodworth and the former Margaret Slaven.  Both of her parents were born in the United States.   Her parents were farmers and her siblings, Wallace Gilbert Woodworth, Merritt E. Woodworth and Henry Woodworth were born in Quebec.  Mrs. Wilson and her other siblings; Eugene Woodworth, Colbourne Woodworth and Margaret Edith Woodworth were born in Ontario.

Dr. and Mrs. Wilson lived in a home located at the corner of Main St. and Chestnut St, in Bothwell, Ontario.  This home is officially located at 421 Main Street and it is included on the Chatham-Kent Municipal Heritage Register.

Dr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of 2 children.   Their daughter Florence May Wilson was born on the 9th of July, 1880 in Kent County and their son Charles Stuart Wilson was born in Bothwell on the 10th of July, 1884.

In 1884 Dr. Wilson was dealing with an outbreak of diphtheria in the community of Bothwell.  During this time, he moved his office to another location on the Main Street, probably in an attempt to protect his family from contracting diphtheria.  Next door to his office on Main Street he opened a drug store.  Dr. Wilson moved his office back to his residence in 1887.

By 1894, the Wilson family was living at 50 Stanley Street in London, Ontario.  In London, Dr. Wilson was a physician for the London Jail.   He died at his residence on Stanley Street on the 28th of April, 1926.  Mrs. Wilson died at her residence on Stanley Street on the 19th of September, 1930.  Dr. and Mrs. Wilson were buried at Woodland Cemetery in London.

*Dr. Wilson’s brother’s Dr. John Dolway Wilson and Dr. George Hudson Wilson also became physicians.  Dr. George Hudson Wilson served with the Canadian Armed Services in WWI and he is featured on the Gathering Our Heroes website.

**Dr. Wilson’s brother Marriott Wilson died in London of tuberculosis on the 1st of June, 1888.  He was 25 years old and a medical student at the time his death.  

***Mrs. Wilson’s brother Wallace Woodworth became a dentist and practiced in Detroit, Michigan.

****Dr. Wilson’s brother-in-law Dr. John Martin Fraser (married to Sarah Wilson) is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.