John Wilson (1821-1890) was born in Granville Street, the son of a spring-knife cutler.  In about 1835, he was apprenticed to grinder John Whittington at Old Park Wheel of Joseph Rodgers & Sons.  He moved to Top Wheel, Norfolk Street, and spent the rest of his career grinding pen-knife blades for Rodgers’.   He was semi-independent (with little taste for trade unions) and took on apprentices and employed grinders himself.  He was prosperous enough to retire in about 1878.  A Wesleyan, he was connected with The People’s College; became a Town Councillor for Brightside (1874); and a JP (1885).  To contemporaries, ‘Honest John’ epitomised the working man rising from the ranks.  The Sheffield Independent printed a two-column obituary on the day of his death (27 June 1890), aged 68, from pneumonia.  He left £4,892.  His unconsecrated burial was in the General Cemetery.