Wildman, Charles W.

WILDMAN, BAILEY, HUTT, ENGLISH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/24/2009 at 10:45:38

Wildman, Charles W.

Success is only achieved by the exercise of certain distinguishing qualities and it cannot be retained without effort. Those by whom great epoch changes have been made in the political and industrial world began early in life to prepare themselves for their peculiar duties and responsibilities and it was only by the most persevering and continuous endeavor that they succeeded in rising superior to the obstacles in their way and reaching the goal of their ambition. Such lives are an inspiration to others who are less courageous and more prone to give up the fight before their ideal is reached or definite success in any chosen field is attained. In the life history of Charles W. Wildman, the well known publisher of the Lynnville Star, we find evidence of a peculiar characteristic that always make for achievement, persistency, coupled with courage, fortitude and actuated by lofty traits, and as a result Mr. Wildman stands today as one of the representative citizens of Jasper County, whose interest he has at heart, having ever had an abiding faith in her future, and he is today a potent factor in her up building.

Mr. Wildman, like many of the enterprising citizens of the locality of which this history deals, is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth having occurred in Athens County, Ohio, September 1, 1869, and he is the son of Oliver and Hannah (Bailey) Wildman, the father born in Pennsylvania in 1833 and the mother's birth occurred in 1835. The elder Wildman started in life for himself as a merchant, and for some time he successfully carried on general merchandising in Adena, Ohio, and he was also postmaster there. In 1871 he came to Iowa, locating at New Sharon and there he continued merchandising from 1876 to 1893, then sold out and in 1896 came to Lynnville, Jasper County, and here engaged in general merchandising and built up a large trade with the town and surrounding country, and in 1907 he retired from active life. His family consisted of the following children: Lou; Ada is deceased; Grant is an electrician at Keokuk; Charles W., of this review.

The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch received his education at New Sharon and he started in life as a partner with his father in the mercantile business as soon as he became of age and he was thus engaged until the family moved to Lynnville in 1896. Then he was on the road in the produce business until 1899, in which year he started a furniture and undertaking business, which he carried on with his usual success until 1907, when he sold out. He next engaged in the real estate business until 1909, in August of which year he purchased the Lynnville Star and has continued to edit and publish the same to the present time. He has greatly improved the property and his paper has gradually increased in circulation and in importance as an advertising medium. Its mechanical appearance has been much improved and it is popular with a wide territory, its editorials being ably and convincingly written and its news columns filled with crisp, late, important current news of the world. This paper was established in 1900. Mr. Wildman has been postmaster at Lynnville since 1902 and he was mayor of the town in 1910 and 1911, discharging the duties of these offices in a most faithful and judicious manner, reflecting much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, proving himself a most worthy public servant.

Mr. Wildman is a loyal Republican and is one of the local leaders in his party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Order.

On February 22, 1899, Mr. Wildman was united in marriage with Grace English, who was born in eastern Iowa, near DeWitt, the daughter of Robert and Cynthia (Hutt) English. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Wayne, now thirteen years old; Dale, who has reached the age of five; and Keith, who has seen four birthdays. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1041.