William Wilson

WILSON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/20/2010 at 13:58:55

William Wilson is an honored veteran of the Civil war and is also one of the extensive landowners of Boone county, having added to his possessions from time to time until they now aggregate more than 700 acres. A native of England, he was born in Suffolk county in February 21, 1841, and was thirteen years of age when he came to the new world with his parents, Simon ad Elizabeth (Ball) Wilson, who were also natives of Suffolk county as was the paternal grandfather Samuel Wilson. In fact the ancestors lived there for several generations. On coming to the new world, the family spent some months in Pennsylvania and then made their way westward to Iowa, settling in Boone county, where William, Wilson has since resided. His father passed away in 1865 having survived her husband for more than forty years. He was eighty-three at the time of her demise. Simon Wilson had been twice married. He first wedded Miss Bayes, of Suffolk county, England and unto them was born a daughter , Annie who became the wife of E T Mills and died at Pilot Mound a number of years ago. By the second marriage there were nine children, of whom William Wilson is the eldest, the others being.: Elizabeth, who became the wife of William K Carson and passed away at Pilot Mound, Samuel who is engaged in the lumber business at Oakdale, California, Sarah who was but sixteen years of age at the time of her death, Mary who passed away a number of years ago in Boone, laving a husband and children: Mrs Alice Showers, of Fraser, Mrs Florence Linn residing in Pilot Mound, Simon a resident farmer of Boone county, and Mrs Nancy Starks who died in Nebraska in 1892.
William Wilson was only about thirteen years of age when the family came to Iowa. Boone county as then a frontier district and his educational opportunities were somewhat limited, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons which have made him an enterprising and successful business man. Through the period of his youth he worked with is father upon the home farm and in 1862, when a young man of twenty-one years, he enlisted a military organization known as the Northern Borer Brigade. He served with that command through the remainder of the year 1862 and a portion of the year 1863, protecting the northern border of Iowa from the Indians who were troublesome along the Minnesota border. Trouble being ended there, the men of this organization offered their services to the Federal government for active duty in the south, but as there was no call at that time for a cavalry regiment form Iowa, the members generally enlisted in other regiments, Mr Wilson going to the front with Company F, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Washington D C. Returning for the war, he purchased a tract of 80 acres of land in Boone county and gradually acquired more, adding to his possessions from time to time as his financial resources increased until he is now the owner of 770 acres. His property interests yield to him a most gratifying annual income, and his is today one of the most substantial citizens of the county. In his business affairs his judgment has at all time been sound and he seems to readily recognize the possibilities and opportunities for the attainment of success. Gradually he ahs worked his way upward and the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity, so honorably has it been gained and so worthily used.
In 1866 Mr Wilson was married to Miss Nancy Richardson, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Richardson, who passed away six years later at the age of twenty-eight. In 1873 he wedded Miss Catherine Fallein, who was born in Sweden August 7, 1852, and was brought to America when five years of age. The family home was established in Boone county, where she acquired her education and has always since resided. Her parents were Lawrence and Annie Fallein, both of whom passed away in Boone county at the ages of eighty-seven and ninety years respectively. Their children were: Lewis, living at Stratford, Jonas now deceased, Mrs Anna Aldrich, a resident of California and Mrs Wilson.
Unto Mr and Mrs Wilson have been born eleven children and they are very fortunate in that the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. Joseph Arthur the eldest, born September 24, 1874, was married April 14, 1897, to Miss Elizabeth Hannann and they had one child who died in infancy. Mabel born August 29, 1875, was married September 12, 1894 to C L Pollard and they had four children, Florence deceased, Claude, Theodore, and Theresa. Henry Lewis born January 28, 1877, was married February 20, 1901, to Ellen Cole and their children are Raymond, Gladys, Meryl and Eleanor. William Richard born March 15, 1878, was married march 14, 1900, to Emma Cole, and they had three children, Roy and Marie still living and a son who died in infancy. Florence Elizabeth born December 10, 1879 became the wife of William Wallace on March 22, 1899. They now reside in Mitchell county, Iowa and their children are Lloyd, Glenn Wilson and Ruth. Jennie Lucinda, deceased was born December 18, 1881, and became the wife of V E Hannann on November 17, 1902. Their children were Amy, Fay, Ferne and George. David Clarence, born November 22, 1883 is a blacksmith at Mineral Ridge and was married August 8, 1906, to Barbara McNain, by whom he has three children, Emily, Ernest, and Virgil. Frank Leroy, born March 19, 1885, was married March 10, 1909 to Jennie Lindmark, and they have a daughter Vivian. Walter Raymond born July 11, 2887 was married August 6, 1913, to Bessie Norich, a native of Russia. Esther Catherine born December 18, 1889 became the wife of Ralph N Buechler of December 2, 1908, and they have two children: Catherine and Helen. Elsie Sophia born March 15, 1892, became the wife of Charles A Buechler, April 26, 1911. All the sons and sons in law are farmers of Boone county, save those whose occupation is otherwise mentioned.
Mr and Mrs Wilson are members of the Baptist church and have reared their family in that faith. IN national politics he is a stanch democrat, but at local elections casts an independent ballot, For eight years he served as township trustee, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. Proof of his capable management of his business activities is found in his splendid success, making him one of the representative farmers of the county.

1914 Boone County Histry Book