ALEXANDER WILSON, who has been actively identified with the business interests of La Fayette for many years, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, fifty miles south of Pittsburgh, March 17, 1819.  His parents, DR. JOHN and SOPHIA (KRAMER) WILSON, were both natives of the State of Pennsylvania, the father born in Fayette County, and the mother in Greene County.  Our subject was quite young when his father died, and he was then reared by an uncle in Fayette County.  In 1837 he came to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he clerked in a store, and acted as agent for the paper-mill of his cousin, DANIEL YANDES.  He came to La Fayette, Tippecanoe County, in 1841.  After coming to LaFayette he established the paper-mills between the canal and the river, just below the site of the present South Street Depot, the name of the first firm being Barbee & Yandes, which was afterward changed to Hanna, Yandes & Wilson.  MR. WILSON was engaged in the manufacture of paper at this point until 1856, when he sold his interest, and bought an interest in the book-bindery and printing establishment, which was conducted under the firm name of Luse & Wilson for several years.  This firm also published the La Fayette Journal, and also did an extensive business in blank books, manufacturing the same for many States in the west and southwest.  MR. WILSON sold out to MR. LUSE about 1861, and then carried on the book business until 1870, when he engaged in the banking business under the firm name of Wilson & Hanna, which he has since followed with success.  His son, JOSEPH, is the present cashier of the bank.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 514-517