J. Stitt Wilson

Jackson Stitt Wilson (March 19, 1868 - August 28, 1942) was a socialist mayor of the city of Berkeley, California from 1911 to 1913.

Wilson was born in Canada on March 19, 1868. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1888, settling in Evanston, Illinois and working as a Methodist pastor and social worker in nearby Chicago. He subsequently became interested and influential in the development of Christian Socialism.

Before he became mayor of Berkeley, Wilson ran for governor of California in 1910 on the Socialist ticket and received 12% of the votes cast. In 1911, he authored The Bible Argument for Socialism followed in 1912 by How I Became A Socialist. During the Great Depression, Wilson was appointed to the California State Relief Commission. In 1932, he was the Socialist candidate for the Congressional district which included Berkeley (7th), and in 1936 and 1940, he was a delegate to the Democratic Party convention. He died in Berkeley on August 28, 1942.

Wilson was married to Emma Agnew and had four children. His two sons were William Gladstone and Melnotte. His two daughters, Gladys Viola and Violette, both went into show business. Gladys took the stage name "Viola Barry". Violette married actor and movie director Irving Pichel.

References

• Political Graveyard Biography
• Viola Barry
• Berkeley Public Library
• 1900 US Census (Illinois), 1910 & 1920 Censuses (California)

See also

• List of Socialist Party Mayors (United States)