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 1857
From History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909)
WILLIAM W. WILSON.
William W. Wilson cultivates an excellent farm containing three hundred and ninety-six acres in Washington township, this county, upon which he has always resided and his pursuit of husbandry has been so favorable as to enable him to become the owner of considerable valuable real estate and to own stock in a large banking institution. His entire life has been spent on his present farm, where his birth occurred December 16, 1857, his parents being Michael and Catherine (Hood) Wilson. The father was a native of Maryland, born near Cumberland, and at an early day removed with his parents to Somerset, Perry county, Ohio. In 1840 he came to this state and entered land in Mahaska county, subsequently making his home in this county, where he pursued general agriculture until he entered into rest. He died February 9, 1891. His wife, a native of Perry county, Ohio, where they were united in marriage, passed away here in 1906, leaving a family of four children: C. J., an attorney of this county; T. J., who engaged in farming in Mahaska county; William W.; and AHce, the wife of Henry Shaver, who is engaged in the furniture business.
William W. Wilson was reared to agricultural life, spending his boyhood days upon his father's farm and the neighboring schools affording him his education. After completing his studies he settled down to farming on the home place, where he has since resided. He owns three hundred and ninety-six acres of land, which is one of the most productive farms in the county and, being provided with a magnificent residence, a substantial barn, good fences and all conveniences with which to pursue the occupation of farming, his place is one of the most desirable in the township and in every particular is suggestive of the thrift and aggressiveness of its owner. He devotes his attention to producing general crops, at the same time taking an interest in stock-raising, and he keeps on hand a number of specimens of the best breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs, which he ships.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.