James B. Wilson

Judge James B. Wilson (February 22, 1859 - September 11, 1956) was a Monroe County judge.

Born in Owen County to John Wesley and Piety Jane (Maners) Wilson, he graduated from Spencer High School. After reading law with Beem and Hickam of Spencer, he entered the mercantile business and remained in that trade until 1890, when he entered Indiana University. Wilson obtained his law degree in 1892 and moved to Worthington, but soon returned to Bloomington to form a law partnership with Frank H. Hatfield, and another with Joseph E. Henley in 1896. Later his son Fred Wilson became his partner.

James Wilson served two terms in the Lawrence-Monroe circuit court from 1902 to 1914, and was Monroe County and Bloomington City Attorney. He ran for United States Senator in 1914.

In 1905, Wilson presided over a murder case in Bedford. He made national headlines when the accused murderer was found not guilty.

He married the former Ona Stephenson in 1884, and they had two children, Ben and Fred. She died in 1910, and in 1912 Wilson was remarried to Maude E. Showers.

At the time of his death at age 97, Wilson was the oldest member of the Monroe County Bar Association and the oldest living graduate of Indiana University. His residence, one of the city's landmarks, was at 410 N. Walnut St.