Lot 8, Block B, plan 216 in St. Marys was owned by farmer, Colin McKellan in 1875. He sold the vacant property, valued at $400, to George Washington Wilson in 1876. In the 1877 assessment records, the value of the property doubled, meaning that something was built on the property. By the next year George had acquired Block D, Lot 12, next door, and increased the value to $1000. His occupation on the assessment is listed as a photo artist.
George was born in St. Marys on October 1, 1855, (grave marker reads 1852, but all other information indicates 1855) to father, Charles W. Wilson, and mother, Elizabeth Filmer. Charles was born in St. Marys in 1827, and Elizabeth was born in 1827 in England. They married on December 10, 1843, in Nissouri, Huron County, and resided in St. Marys until their deaths in 1898 and 1890 respectively.
In the 1871 Census, George is shown as being 16 years old and living with his parents, his two brothers,
James (20), and Edwin (13), and three sisters, Edith (10), Alice (5), and Ellen 6 months. The Perth County Directory & Gazetteer lists his occupation as a photographer. He married Mary Agnus "Millie" McCullough (1863), who arrived from Ireland to Canada on July 4, 1874.
By 1882, their first son, Charles Edwin, was born on July 8. William Vincent who was born July 15, 1884, is their next son. The family was still living at 23 Ontario Street North, St. Marys in 1886, as George is listed as a photographer in the Canada, Cities & Area Directory. By the next year, when Fredrick Alfred was born on June 6, they were living in Selkirk, Manitoba. Fredrick was an infant death. George and Millie's last son, Fredrick Lawrence was born on October 16, 1888. In the 1891 Census, George had become a cook living in Selkirk.
By the 1901 Census, George was still a baker, and is listed as a lodger, along with his sons Charles, William, and Fredrick. Millie is not listed since she died in 1901, but no information was found about her death. George died on June 24, 1918. He is buried in St. Clements Cemetery, Selkirk, Manitoba. His name is the only name on the grave marker.