For as long as Emily Wilson could remember, she had been entrusted with the stories, photographs and memories of her family.

Whether it was her curiosity or puzzle-solving skills, Wilson was unofficially designated by the family elders to keep those stories alive, and it was a task she felt compelled to execute.

With what started as a 1908 letter from a father to his daughter, Wilson of Seattle, Wash., has written a book about her family history that tells of their impact on the maritime culture of the U.S. Pacific Coast. But it also touches the history of Meeker County, too.

“From Boats to Board Feet: The Wilson Family of the Pacific Coast” tells the story of the Wilson family and the Wilson Bros. & Co. through massive historical research and original documents.

The Wilson brothers — Henry, Charles and Fred — immigrated to the United States from Sweden in the mid-19th century. One of their business partners was Abraham Bertram (A.B.) Johnson, a native of Meeker County. Wilson’s book briefly delves into the Johnson family of Meeker County, especially A.B.’s sister, Mary Hilda Johnson, who married Henry Wilson.

Read more in the April 3 Independent Review.