In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1864
From History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people (1915)
GEORGE F. WILSON.
George F. Wilson, a land agent at Cedar Falls, conducting an extensive business in North Dakota properties, was born April 6, 1864, on a farm ten miles west of the city in which he now makes his home, his parents being Harrison J.' and Eliza A. (Collier) Wilson, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Ogle county, Illinois. The father, who always followed farming as a life work, came to Iowa in the early '50s and settled in Grundy county on land which he purchased from the government. It was entirely destitute of improvements when it came into his possession but with characteristic energy he at once began to develop the fields and in the course of time made it a valuable property. Subsequently he removed to another farm in Fairfield township, Grundy county, and continued to make his home in that county until his death, which occurred about the year 1883. His widow is now a resident of Des Moines. Mr. Wilson was for one term county treasurer of Grundy county but was never a politician in the sense of office seeking.
George F. Wilson was the second in order of birth in a family of six children and upon the farm in Fairfield township, Grundy county, he spent the period of his youth, attending the public schools and aiding his father in the farm work. At the time when his father became ill he took charge of the old homestead and managed the work of developing the fields until his father's death eight months later. He afterward continued upon the homestead for two years, at the end of which time an older brother, Ira J. Wilson, took charge of the farm and to him George F. Wilson sold his interests. He then went to Bridgewater, South Dakota, in 1886, seeking to improve his impaired health by a change of climate. There he again engaged in farming until 1891, when he took up his above in the town of Bridgewater, where he established a harness business and later engaged in drawing and in the livery business. He sold out there in 1893 " returned to Iowa, taking up his above in Cedar Falls, where he worked at the carpenter's trade with his brother, who was a building contractor.
In February, 1894, however, ]\Mr. Wilson embarked in the real-estate business, handling property in Cedar Falls and its vicinity. He also established an insurance agency, handling both fire and life insurance for a time, but afterward dropped the latter. In 1905 he homesteaded in Stark county, North Dakota, where he resided for a year and a half, receiving the title to his land. With the exception of that period he has been engaged continuously in the real-estate business in Cedar Falls during the past twenty years and now handles land in Iowa, yIinnesota and North Dakota. He is now the individual owner of eight hundred and forty acres of land in North Dakota and has two thousand acres under his control. He devotes his entire time to the business and when in North Dakota makes his headquarters at Bismarck. He has the greatest possible faith in the future of the state and is doing much through colonization for its develop)- ment.
On the 6th of March, 1889, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Effie J. Burgess, a native of Grundy county and a daughter of James H. and Martha (Wilcox) Burgess, who were early settlers of Fairfield township, that county, but both are now deceased. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: Clarke L. V' who is attending college and assists his father in business; Inez F., who is also acting as her father's assistant; and Mina B. and Roger \' both in school. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson hold membership with the Tribe of Ben Hur and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Wilson is a progressive republican. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument, but does not seek political preferment, as his time is fully occupied with his business affairs. His cooperation has been felt as a beneficial factor in movements for the upbuilding of Cedar Falls as well as of North Dakota.
As printed in History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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