Michael W. Wilson

As printed in 1887

ICHAEL W. WILSON, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 29, Washington Township, is one of the best known men in Washington County. He is a pioneer atooag pioneers, coming to this county in 1840, and has-been identified with it since that time. He is a native of Alleghany County, Md., born Aug. 13, 1808. Hia father, James Wilson, was a native of Maryland, born JNIarch 6, 1781. His mother,.Martha (Ashby) Wilson, was also a native of that State, born Feb. 12, 1786. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom lived to be adults, one dying in infancy: Michael, of this county; James R., of Perry County, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Israel Moore, of Ferry County, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Robert Huston, of Ferry County, Ohio; Rachel, wife of Isaac Cooper, of Ferry County, Ohio; Martha, wife of Isaac Hull, of the same county; Jonathan, the eldest, died in Washington County, Iowa; Thomas died in Perry- County, Ohio.

Politically, James Wilson was an old-line Whig, a great admirer of Henry Clay, and when the latter was defeated for the Presidency, could scarcely restrain his feelings. He held several local offices in Perry County-, and was Judge of the County Court of that county for eight years. In his case, it was the oUice seeking the man, and not the man the office. He was a great student, and well posted in the affairs of the country. Honest and upright in all his dealings, charitable in all laudable enterprises, there was not a man in the State of Ohio more universally respected. He and his wife were life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal

Chiirfli, mid alwaj-s took an active interest in the same. Janie.s Wilson died iMareh 31, ItSoS, and Mai'tlia Wilson died in 177. Both died in Ohio.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the pioneer log school-house, attending school in the winter, and assisting his father upon the farm during the summer months. lie remained at home until twenty-five 3-ears of age, when he commenced work for iiimself, his first venture being the raising of a crop of tobacco, and in which he was quite successful, realizing quite a handsome sum for that day. He was married on the loth of February, 1819, to Miss Catherine Ann Hood, born March I. 1826, in Perry County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Judge Charles C. and Frances (Hammond) Hood, the family being among the best known and highly respectcil in that section of the country. Judge Hood was a man of strong common sense, the people of his section of country going to him for legal advice to the detriment of the attorneys, for he would almost invariably' secure a settlement of difHculties without litigation. Judge and Mrs. Hood were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both died in Perry County Ohio. In 1840, Mr. Wilson came to Washington County, Iowa, and made a claim to a tract of land on section 29, Washington Township, to which he afterward secured the deed, and which he improved, and on which he has lived for almost a half century'. To his original purchase he has since added other purchases, until he now owns 800 acres of land, lj"ing within a short distance of the city of Washington. When the second purchase was made from the Indians, Jlr. Wilson went to Mahaska County, made claim to a tract of land on Six-Mile Prairie, and there improved a good farm, though he never moved to that county.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In connection with this sketch may be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, which 'will be well appreciated by the readers of this work.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.