Alphonso Wilson

Alphonso Wilson (1860 December, 4 - 1936) was an African-American activist in Omaha, Nebraska at the turn of the 20th century. Wilson was born in Bedford, Missouri in 1860. In 1880 he moved to Chicago and in 1886 he moved to Omaha. In Omaha he was a partner of the real estate firm Wilson & Bryant with James Bryant. In 1890 he was elected the Chairman of the Bureau of Immigration of the Nebraska branch of the National Afro-American League under president Matthew Ricketts.[1] He also served as treasurer and a founding member of the Omaha Union League club, a social club and lyceum formed in 1895.[2] In 1890, he was a member of a national building, loan, and protective union organized to assist Omaha blacks to buy or build a home. The local board of the group consisted of president George F. Franklin, vice president William Marshall, Secretary and Treasurer Alfred S. Barnett and Attorney James S. Bryant. The Board of Appraisers was Millard F. Singleton, Alphonso Wilson, and Harrison Buckner.[3]

Alphonso Wilson
Phototype from the Progress, June 21, 1890
Born1860
Bedford, Missouri, U.S.
Died (aged 76)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
OccupationReal Estate
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKathryn
Children2

He was a delegate to the state republican convention in 1896[4] and 1901.[5] He and his wife were very musical, and he performed on violin with Dan Desdunes.[6] Later in his life he worked as a steward for the Metropolitan Club and then the University Club in Omaha. He also was a treasurer and trustee for Excelsior Masonic Lodge. He was married to Kathryn and had two sons, Alphonso and Thomas. Wilson died at age 76 on December 3, 1939.[7] His wife was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on April 1, 1870 and died in Omaha in 1952. She was the founder of the California Beauty School, called the "oldest beauty school west of Chicago".[8]

References
  1. The Afro-American League Officers Elected at the Nebraska State Convention to Serve for the Ensuring. Progress (Omaha, Nebraska). Saturday, June 21, 1890. Page: 1
  2. Club of Colored People. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Tuesday, February 19, 1895. Page: 2
  3. [No Headline]. Progress (Omaha, Nebraska). Saturday, March 22, 1890. Page: 2
  4. Snarling, Barking Crowd Noise the Predominating Feature at the Republican County Convention. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Saturday, May 30, 1896. Volume: XXXI Issue: 243 Page: 1
  5. Opposing Tickets in Five City Wards. Bitter Fight on Machine Promised at Republican Primaries next Friday. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Wednesday, September 25, 1901. Volume: XXXVI Issue: 360 Page: 7
  6. Will Give Benefit Play for St. John's Church. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Thursday, September 11, 1913. Page: 5
  7. Alphonso Wilson. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Friday, December 4, 1936. Page: 17
  8. The California Beauty School. Giffard Park History Book, accessed March 9, 2016 at http://www.giffordparkomaha.org/History_California_Beauty_School.html
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