Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 150. OTTO J. WILSON Otto J. Wilson, of Salem, has for several reasons long enjoyed distinction in the automobile field, having owned the first motor car in the state of Oregon, outside of Portland, established the first automobile agency in the state outside of that city, now has the oldest automobile agency in the state of Oregon, has the oldest Buick agency on the Pacific coast and has been in the automobile business longer than any other man on the coast. For these reasons, as well as for his continued success and his splendid personality, he commands to a marked degree the respect and esteem of all who know him and is well entitled to representation in the history of his section of the state. A native of Marion county, Oregon, Mr. Wilson was born on the 29th of September, 1868, a son of John and Minerva J. (Melson) Wilson. His father was a native of Tennessee, from which state he came to the Pacific coast in the '50s, making the long voyage around Cape Horn. He located first in California, where he engaged in mining for awhile, and about 1863 he brought his mother and sisters to Oregon, buying land about three miles east of Salem, where he engaged in farming, living there continuously to the time of his death, which occurred in 1904. After locating there he married Miss Minerva J. Melson, who was born in Missouri and is a daughter of Sampson D. Melson, who crossed the plains, with ox teams, in 1864 and located near Markham, Oregon, later moving to the vicinity of Salem. Mrs. Wilson now makes her home with her son and is eighty-three years of age. Otto J. Wilson received his education in the public schools and Willamette University, after which he entered the banking house of Williams & England, in Salem, with whom he remained about seven years. On the death of his father he took over the operation of the home farm, which he still owns. In 1902 Mr. Wilson bought an Oldsmobile, being then the proud possessor of the only automobile in the state outside of Portland, and in that same year he took the agency for that car, of which he sold five the first year. A few years later he took the agency for the Auburn car and afterwards handled the Overland car until 1907, when he became local agent for the Buick automobile and still retains that car, being the only Buick dealer who has ever operated in this locality. During the twenty years that he has handled this car he has had Marion and Polk counties as his territory, throughout which he has sold an enormous number of cars, and, because of his square dealing and progressive business methods, he has established himself firmly in the confidence of the public. In 1915 the first garage building in Salem was built for Mr. Wilson, it being of reinforced concrete, eighty-two by one hundred and sixty feet in size, in which he has his salesroom, office and service and parts departments. He employs about sixteen people and sells an average of one hundred and forty cars a year. In 1913 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Ketchum, of Salem, and to them have been born two children, Margaret Ruth and Otto ]., Jr. Mr. Wilson has always been a loyal and active supporter of the republican party, which has honored him by election to positions of responsibility, he having served three years as a member of the city council, as mayor of Salem in 1920 and from 1923 to 1927 as a member of the state legislature. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, is a charter member of the Illihee Country Club, and he and his wife are earnest members of the Presbyterian church. He has at all times shown a live interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and advancement of his city and has been an effective worker in the direction of improvement and progress, being regarded as one of Salem's representative men. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2013 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.