Wilson, Obed Jay
publisher, poet, was born Aug. 30, 1826, in Bingham, Maine. In 1852 he entered the publishing house of Winthrop B. Smith and Company as literary referee, and became at a later date editor-in-chief of their publications.
In 1862 the firm made him a partner, and in 1869 he rose to the head of the house.
Under the style of Wilson, Hinkle and Company, the firm became one of the largest school book publishing houses in the United States. In 1891 the business was merged in that of the American Book company. He has written much in prose and verse in an easy, graceful and forcible style, and owes his remarkable success to a combination of the qualities of a business man and a writer.