Leonidas L. Wilson

As printed in 1901

LEONIDAS L. WILSON.

Probably no one in Center Point is more widely known or highly esteemed than Dr. L. I>. Wilson, who has been a resident of this county since March, 1855. He was

28o born in Cliesterville. Morrow county, Ohio, July 2Ti. 1843. and is a son of Dr. John F. Wilson, whose birth occurred in Emmitsburg, Maryland, August 17, 1812. His paternal grandfather. Thomas Vilson, was a native of County Monaghan. Ireland, and was a child when he came to the new world with his parents and settled in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The latter's father owned property in County Monaghan, which he leased for a term of one hundred years on his emigration to America.

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The subject of this sketch was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this county, and he remained with them until reaching manhood, working on the home farm during the summer season and attending the district schools through the winter months. When the Civil war broke out he joined the boys in blue, enlisting in August, 1862, as a private in Company B, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The first engagement in which he participated was the fight at Newtonia, Missouri. Later he took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and the siege of Vicksburg, and after the surrender of the latter place he was in the battles of Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, Fort Blakely and Mobile, besides a number of skirmishes. Several times his clothes were pierced by bullets and his hat was once shot off, but fortunately he was never injured, though he received a sunstroke at Vicksburg, and was in the hospital at that place after the siege. He accompanied his regiment on their removal to New Orleans, but had not yet recovered from the effects of the sunstroke and was soon sent home on sick leave. As soon as able he rejoined his command at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, and remained at the front until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Mobile and discharged at Clinton, Iowa, in July, 1865.

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At Center Point. January 24. 1867, Dr. Wilson married Miss Emma L. Hughes, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of F. F. Hughes, who was born at Cape May, New Jersey, and brought his family to Iowa in 1857, Mrs. Wilson being reared in Benton and Linn counties. By this union was born one daughter, Lora E., now the wife of W. A. Rogers, a farmer of 'washington township, this county, and the only son of John Rogers, who is now living a retired life in Center Point. They have two children. Beth E. and Leo J.

Politically Dr. Wilson is a life-long Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant and for every presidential candidate of the party since that time. He drew up the documents for the organization and incorporation of Center Point, and has ever taken an active and influential part in public affairs. He was a member of, the first city council, and has since served as township clerk, city assessor, and school treasurer. He has been a member of the school board twenty years, and was first treasurer and later secretary of the same. In 1901 he was elected supervisor, and is now a member of the county board. The Doctor is also prominently identified with a number of civic societies. He was created a Master Mason at Center Point in 1865, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge at that place, of which he is past grand chancellor. He was one of the organizers of Dennison Post, No. 244, G.

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.