Wilson, Alfred O.

WILSON, BARNES, HAND, GOODRICH, NASON, PITCOCK, TEDROW, HANSEN, WARE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/24/2009 at 11:02:51

Wilson, Alfred O.

The subject of this sketch early in life realized the fact that success never comes to the idle or dreamer and he has accordingly remembered the aphorism, and devoted himself to ardent toil along lines that cannot but insure success. The property, which he enjoys, has been the result of energy rightly applied and has been won by commendable qualities. In such a man as Mr. Wilson there is especial satisfaction in offering in their life records justification for issuing a biographical compendium such as the one at hand, not necessarily that the careers of such men as his type have been such as to gain them wide reputation or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts reposed in them, have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all and have been useful in their respective sphere of action at the same time winning and retaining the confidence and good will of all with whom he has come into contact.

Alfred O. Wilson was born in Story County, Iowa, May 14, 1877, and he came with his parents to Jasper County in 1878 and with the exception of a year and a half spent in Rhodes engaged in the livery business, he has been a continuous resident of the same, being now successfully engaged in farming in Independence Township. Here he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools. He is the son of Elisha and Sarah A. (Barnes) Wilson, the father born in Kentucky. He came to Iowa in an early day, spending the latter years of his life in Jasper County, his death occurring in February 1903, at the age of sixty-two years. His widow is now living in Colorado. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, two having died in infancy; those living are, Mrs. Mary Hand, of Colorado; H. D. also resides in the Centennial state; Mrs. Jennie Nason and Mrs. Laura Goodrich also live in Colorado; Alfred O., of this sketch. The older children were born in Henry County, Iowa, where the parents lived for a number of years upon first coming to this state.

Elisha Wilson was a typical pioneer and he erected the first blacksmith shop in the town of Baxter, this having been the second building there.

Alfred O. Wilson was married on February 20, 1891, to Bessie May Pitcock, who was born in Jasper County, Iowa, on April 25, 1877. She is the daughter of William and Matilda (Tedrow) Pitcock, both natives of Ohio. Her father is residing at Mingo, having come to Jasper County, Iowa, in an early day; his wife passed away in this County on June 28, 1907. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, namely: Harley resides at Goddard; Mrs. Rosa Hansen lives in Independence Township; Harry lives at Goddard; Bessie May, wife of Mr. Wilson, of this sketch; Mrs. Rilla Ware lives in Jasper County; William lives at Mingo and Edward at Goddard. They were all born, reared and educated in Jasper County, with the exception of the eldest son, who was born in Ohio.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely: Helen May, born November 27, 1901; Eddie Beryl, born February 16, 1904; Clyde Herbert, born January 30, 1908. The two eldest children are attending school in the home district.

Politically, Mr. Wilson is a Republican and he is a member of the board of education in Independence Township. Fraternally, he belongs to Unity Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons: Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, of Baxter; he and Mrs. Wilson are both members of Baxter Temple No. 202, Pythian Sisters, of Baxter. He was formerly a member of Baxter Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Christian Church.

Mr. Wilson has been very successful in his business life. During several years that he was engaged in the livery business at Baxter and Rhodes he enjoyed a liberal patronage. Turning his attention to agricultural pursuits, he moved to his newly acquired farm of one hundred acres in Independence Township, Jasper County, on March 1, 1911, and here he has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising in a manner that has brought definite rewards. He is a type of those young men who do not wait for opportunities to come to them, but who go out to the arena of action and made his chance to win success. His farm is well improved and he has a pleasant home.

Mr. Wilson has among his collection of curios a copy of the New York Herald, issued at the time of Lincoln's assassination, April 15, 1865, which graphically describes the events of those stirring times. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1131.