The Wilson Families of Wapello County, Iowa

IRA WILSON, a highly respected resident of Wapello county, Iowa, is engaged in farming in Richland township, where he has resided for many years. He was born in Indiana, in 1833, and is a son of David Wilson.

David Wilson was born in AVashington county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1785, and was eight years of age when he moved with his parents to Ohio. He afterward located in Indiana and was engaged in farming until 1852, when he came to Iowa. He stopped six weeks in Des Moines county, and then moved to Richland township, Wapelloi county, and took up the farm on which Ira Wilson now resides. He had previously purchased a farm of 280 acres, on which he resided at the time of his death, in 1863. He was a Republican in politics, and served as trustee of the township one term.

He married Margaret Conaway, who was born in South Carolina, and they reared the following children: Charles, Hannah and Henry, deceased; Ira; and Lucy, deceased.

Ira Wilson was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Iowa, and here he lived with his father until after his marriage. He then purchased a portion of his father's farm, on which he has since resided. He carries on general farming and has raised some stock. He has lived a life of great activity, and success has attended his efforts. He is a man of high character, and is held in the highest esteem wherever known. He has lived in this county since the spring of 1852, and has formed many warm friendships in that time. Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Letitia Brown, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, and they have reared the following children: Joseph, of Ottumwa; Laura; Lettie; Elmer, who lives at home; and Benjamin F. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALBERT D. WILSON.

Albert D. Wilson resides at No. 2002 West Second street, just outside the city limits of Ottumwa. For an extended period he was identified with agricultural pursuits in this county and employed modern methods in the cultivation and development of his fields, but is now living retired, having in 1913 put aside the more active work of the farm and taken up his above at his present place of residence.

Mr. Wilson was born in Center township, a mile and a quarter west of the city limits of Ottumwa on the Eddyville Road, July 30, 1864, a son of Prier S. Wilson, who for many years was a leading farmer of Wapello county, where he became the owner of an excellent farm of four hundred acres, situated on sections 10 and i q, Center township. He was born in Monroe county, Indiana, July 22, 1838, and came of Irish ancestry, although the family has been represented on this side of the water for many generations. The father and grandfather of Prier S. Wilson were both natives of Kentucky and made farming their life work. In the year 184Q Prier S. Wilson arrived in Wapello county, but after a brief period removed to Van Buren county. In 1852, however, he returned to this county and successfully engaged in farming. In 1860 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, constituting the nucleus of the old homestead farm,- to which he afterward added from time to time until his possessions aggregated four hundred acres. In 1862 he built his first house, also erected a large barn fifty by one hundred feet and other outbuildings for the protection of grain and stock. A number of years afterward he erected another residence and subsequent to that time built a third house. He brought his land to a high state of cultivation, harvesting about four thousand bushels of grain annually and also raising cattle and hogs on an extensive scale. Splendid success attended his efforts as farmer and stock, dealer, and he also embarked in the real-estate business, buying and selling farms.

In 1858 Prier S. Wilson was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Stephenson, and to them were born five children: Nancy, Laura E., Albert D., Emery M. and T. H., all now living with the exception of the last named.

Albert D. Wilson resided at the place of his birth until May 15, 1899, or for a period of thirty-five years. He then removed to his farm one-half mile west of Ottumwa and made his home there until January 15, 1913, when he took up his above at his present place of residence, just outside the city limits at No. 2002 West Second street. He now rents his farm of two hundred acres, which is situated on sections 3, 10 and 15, Center township. For many years he there conducted dairy farming, having been associated with his father and brother in the dairy business, while for about thirty-five years he was alone. At one time he kept about eighty cows for dairy purposes, at which time he was in partnership with his father and when alone in the business he had twenty-five cows. His interests were carefuUv conducted, and his unfaltering enterprise and unabating energy were the salient elements in his success. He has ten acres of land in his home place, and he also owns a number of other pieces of property in the city, having made judicious investments in real estate, therefrom he now derives a gratifying annual income.

In 1884 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Amy F. Graves, who was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, November 28, 1862, a daughter of O. C. and Harriet F. (Humphrey) Graves. Her father was born in Independence, JefTerson county, Missouri, in 1833, and the genealogy of the family gives the ancestral records in the United States and in England back to the thirteenth century. O. C. Graves came to Wapello county in early childhood in company with his parents and passed away in the home now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson on the 8th of March, 1913- He was one of eleven children, who had but limited opportunities in youth, and he worked his way through college by setting type. All of his life he was a printer and editor, being connected in an editorial capacity with a number of different papers. He was a man of very decided views, outspoken and fearless and did not hesitate to sign his name to his writings, never hiding behind the commonly used editorial "we" of the present day. His first wife died in 1864, and he afterward married again. His children were Horace L., who died at the age of nineteen years; and Mrs. Wilson. Mr. Graves was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and in early life joined that denomination, but while a student at Antioch College, he became an investigator of spiritualism and in later life ardently supported that belief. He made the golden rule the leading principle of his life and never lost an opportunity to do good.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born seven children: Fred D., of Moline, Illinois, who married Theresa Burns and has three children. Mildred, Darrel and Elfreda; Albert H., of South Ottumwa, who married Rose Mielkey and has two children, Harold and Merle; Horace R., of South Ottumwa, who married Bertha Lang; Oliver Clyde, who wedded Florence Hendrickson; and Raymond P., Harriet and Edith, all at home.

Mr. Wilson is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county. His life has been a busy, active and useful one, and the energy and determination which he has displayed have enabled him to overcome many difficulties and obstacles. He worked persistently and energetically while improving his farm and conducting his dairy business and now is living practically retired upon his small but attractive place at the outskirts of Ottumwa, enjoying the well earned rest which has come to him.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EMERY M. WILSON.

Emery M. Wilson is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Wapello county and still lives on the old homestead three miles west of the county seat on the Eddyville Road. It was here that he was born on the 20th of January, 1869, and he has always resided upon this place.

He is a son of Prier S. Wilson, who for many years was a leading agriculturist of the county and a man highly respected by all who knew him. He deserves much credit for what he accomplished, for he started out in the world empty-handed when but eleven years of age and became the possessor of valuable farming property. He was a native of Monroe county, Indiana, born July 22, 1838, and he traced his ancestry back through intermediate generations to Ireland. His grandfather and his father, however, were natives of Kentucky, and the family home was established in Indiana in pioneer times. There Prier S. Wilson remained until 1849, when he removed to Wapello county, Iowa. After a brief period he went to Van Buren county.

but in 1852 returned to Wapello county, and from that time forward until his death was closely and prominently associated with agricultural interests here. In 1860 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and as his financial resources increased extended the boundaries of his farm until he had four hundred acres. Lpon this place he erected a dwelling in 1862 and also built a large barn fifty by one hundred feet, and other buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Some years afterward he erected another residence thirty-five by forty feet and afterward a third home twenty-eight by thirty feet, renting the first two and occupying the third. He brought his land to a high state of cultivation and in addition to the production of large crops he raised cattle and hogs. He likewise dealt in real estate and gained a good profit from the sale and purchase of farms. He was a man of high business integrity and honor, straightforward in all his dealings, and was never known to take advantage of the necessities of a fellowman in a business transaction.

For almost sixty years he resided upon the old homestead, settling there in 1852 and remaining thereon until his death on the 26th of April, 1911. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Stephenson, passed away in ALirch, 1874. They were married in i8£;8 and unto them were born five children: Nancy, who is now the widow of Frank Arnold of Kansas City, Missouri; Laura E., the widow of Wesley Bryant of Chariton, Iowa; Albert D., living in Ottumwa; Emery M., of this review; and Thomas H., who died in early childhood. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Wilson was married again in 1880.

Emery AL Wilson spent his youthful days upon the old home farm on the Eddyville Road, where his birth occurred January 20, 1869. As his age and strength increased he assisted more and more largely in the work of the fields and ultimately came into possession of two hundred acres of the old homestead, which lie still owns. He makes dairying and stock-raising the principal features of his place. In connection with his brother, Albert D., and their father, he conducted a dairy and ran a milk wagon m the city for about twenty years, and continued to run the wagon alone for about ten years. At times they had one hundred and ten cows for their dairy supply, and Mr. Wilson now has about twenty-five head of dairy cattle. His business has always been carefully managed, his enterprise is unfaltering, and his judgment concerning the leading features of his business is sound and reliable.

In 1889 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss E. Millie May Houk, who was born in Wapello county, Iowa, October 24, 1868, a daughter of Jacob and Chloe C. Houk, who were early settlers of Wapello county, coming to this state from Pennsylvania. Both her parents passed away here. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two children: Forest Henry and Ardie C., both at home. Mr. Wilson is widely known in this county, where his entire life has been passed and where his many substantial qualities have won him success in business and the high regard of his fellowmen. He represents one of the worthy old pioneer families, and the work which was instituted by his father is now being successfully carried on by him, resulting in the material development of the community as well as in his personal success.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. T. WILSON.

W. T. Wilson, a worthy native son and respected citizen of Wapello county, was elected to the office of county clerk in 191 2 and in that connection has made a highly creditable record. His birth occurred on the 24th of October, 1864, his parents being Thomas A. and Lucy J. (Farmer) Wilson, the former born in Owen county, Indiana, November 20, 1830, and the latter in the same county, on the 23d of April, 1831. Thomas A. Wilson, an agriculturist by occupation, came to Iowa in 1851, settling on a farm in Wapello county. His last years were spent in honorable retirement at Ottumwa, where he passed away on the 20th of February, 1900. The period of his residence in this county covered nearly a half century, and in his demise the community lost one of its substantial and esteemed citizens. His widow still survives and makes her home with our subject in Ottumwa.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

R. J. B. WILSON, a gentleman skilled in the science of medicine and surgery, has been located at Ottumwa since December, 1897, in which time he has established a large and remunerative practice. He was born in Mitchell, Ontario, and is a son of James F. and Matilda ( Stewart) Wilson.

Dr. Wilson received his primary education in the Harrison high school, from which he graduated in 1886, and then took a classical course of study in Toronto Universit), which lasted two years. In 1891 he entered Trinity Medical College, in which he completed a five-year course, graduating in 1896, with the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery. His first field of practice was at Hanover, Ontario, where he remained about two years.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.