OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 187 
WILSON entered his new duties with a will, and was so successful 
in organizing and whipping together the disintegrated interests 
that at the time his option expired, the shares he held were worth 
nearly four times as much as when he received his option. This 
gave Mr. WILson a high financial rating and has enabled him to 
proceed even further with the extension and organization of the 
business. On July 21, 1916, the firm name was changed to 
Witson & Co. 
Witson & Co. is among the largest of meat packing concerns 
in the world having packing plants at Chicago, Oklahoma City, 
Kansas City, Los Angeles, Calif.; Sioux Falls, S. D.; Nebraska 
City, Nebr.; Albert Lea, Minn.; Natchez, Miss.; Wheeling, 
W. Va.; Chatham, Ontario, Canada; Buenos Aires, A. R. South 
America and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Witson & Co. have branches in 
all principal European countries and do a large export business. 
In 1918, the company showed total assets of $129,891,945.30. 
Mr. WILson was elected first president of the Institute of 
American Meat Packers, which organization he was instrumental 
in forming. The Institute comprises in its membership nearly 
every large and small meat packer in the United States. Mr. 
Witson is a director of the International Livestock Exposition, 
a director of the Wabash Railroad and president of the Oklahoma 
City Stock Yards Co. In 1918 he also was elected president of 
the Chicago Shorthorn Cattle Club. Edellyn Farm is near Lake 
Forest, Ill., where Mr. WILSON indulges his passion for breeding 
and raising pure blooded horses, Shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey 
hogs, poultry and game. He has specialized in Shorthorn cattle 
and Clydesdale draft horses. 
Mr. WILson is one of the most popular of the greater officials 
in Chicago, and has a wide club membership and an even wider 
friendship. As an example of the success that can come to the 
youth of humble origin who possesses brains and industry, Mr. 
WILSON stands almost supreme and his career is a direct challenge 
to every young man of ability. 
