Wickson, Edward J. (Edward James), 1848-1923

Professor of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley.

Born on August 3, 1848 in Rochester, New York, Edward James Wikson devoted much of his life to agricultural research. In 1872, he graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Wickson was elected secretary of the New York Dairymen's Association in 1871. He organized the first dairy association in California in 1876. Wickson started at the University of California in 1879 as a lecturer in Practical Agriculture, was promoted to Assistant Professor of Agriculture in 1891, and in 1897 became a Professor of Agricultural Practice and Superintendent of Agricultural Extension courses. From 1906-1912, he served as the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. From 1905-1906 he reviewed nearly seventy sites on which to locate the University Farm.

Wickson admired experimental horticulturalist Luther Burbank (1849-1926) and wrote about him in Luther Burbank; Man, Methods and Achievements, published in 1902. Wickson's other writings include The California Fruits and How to Grow Them (1889), The California Vegetables in Garden and Field (1898), and Rural California (1923). He began working withe Pacific Rural Press in 1875, and was named a special contributor in 1894 and was the editor from 1899 until 1923. He died on July 16, 1923.

Biography

Edward James Wickson, professor of agriculture of the University of California, was born in Rochester, New York on August 3, 1848. He attended Hamilton College, graduating in 1872. He was for a while on the editorial staff of the Utica Morning Herald, made a special study of the cheese industry, and was elected secretary of the New York Dairymen's Association in 1871. He also served as president of the Utica Dairymen's Board of Trade. In 1875 he became connected with the Pacific Rural Press. His association with the University of California began as a lecturer in practical agriculture in 1879; he became an associate professor in 1891. He later assumed responsibility for the University Extension courses in agriculture, and became Dean of the College of Agriculture and head of the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1905, becoming emeritus in 1915. Professor Wickson organized the first dairy association in California in 1876 and was active in the California State Horticultural Society. He was the author of numerous articles in professional journals and newspapers, and of several volumes relating to fruits and vegetables and garden flowers. He died July 16, 1923.

Biography

Born on August 3, 1848 in Rochester, New York, Edward James Wickson devoted much of his life to agricultural research. In 1872, he graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Wickson was elected secretary of the New York Dairymen's Association in 1871. He organized the first dairy association in California in 1876. Wickson started at the University of California in 1879 as a lecturer in Practical Agriculture, was promoted to Assistant Professor of Agriculture in 1891, and in 1897 became a Professor of Agricultural Practice and Superintendent of Agricultural Extension courses. From 1906-1912, he served as the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. From 1905-1906 he reviewed nearly seventy sites on which to locate the University Farm.

Wickson admired experimental horticulturalist Luther Burbank (1849-1926) and wrote about him in Luther Burbank; Man, Methods and Achievements, published in 1902. Wickson's other writings include The California Fruits and How to Grow Them (1889), The California Vegetables in Garden and Field (1898), and Rural California (1923). He began working with The Pacific Rural Press in 1875, was named a special contributor in 1894 and was the editor from 1899 until 1923. He died on July 16, 1923.

Sources:

Scheuring, Ann. Abundant Harvest: The History of the University of California, Davis. Davis: The Regents of the University of California, 2001.

Stadtman, Verne A. The Centennial Record of the University of California. Berkeley: UC Printing Department, 1967.