WILSON, MRS. ANN

WILSON, BROWN, ESLER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/3/2003 at 19:14:46

Biography reproduced from page 686 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

“Grandma” Wilson, for by that name she is known throughout this section of the state, has for forty-six years been a resident of Kossuth county, coming here at the pioneer period immediately after the Civil war. She was born in Scotland, October 15, 1819. Her father, William Brown, a native of that country, was a farm boy and fell in love with Mary Esler, also a native of Scotland, who belonged to the aristocracy. But the parents of the girl would not consent to the daughter marrying a man of lower station in life, so, at the age of sixteen years, this high-school girl eloped with her lover and they were married in Ireland. On returning to Scotland the girl’s parents still refused to see their daughter, so they returned to the Emerald isle, where William Brown bought land and became a prominent farmer and landowner. When their daughter Ann was sixteen years of age she, too, eloped, becoming the wife of John Wilson, a native of Ireland, in which country they were married. They went, however, to England and there made their home until 1851, when they emigrated to America, settling in Philadelphia, where Mr. Wilson engaged in the manufacture of linen and calico cloth. There John Wilson and his son John enlisted in the Union army, serving for three years in the Civil war, while Mrs. Wilson’s brother, H. A. Brown, served with the same command,--Company H, Second Pennsylvania Reserves—of which he was second lieutenant.

After the war John Wilson and his family removed to Kossuth county and homesteaded the farm whereon Mrs. Wilson still resides. They built a shanty at Algona which they occupied until a house could be erected upon the claim. While working on the construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Algona, John Wilson met death by accident on the hill opposite the old flour mill. For forty-three years Mrs. Wilson has been a widow, residing on the farm and carrying on affairs assisted by her children. She was the mother of the following sons and daughters, of whom six are living: Maggie, who resides with her mother; John, deceased, who served beside his father in the Civil war and subsequently was employed for twenty years as engineer in a factory at Philadelphia; Eliza and William, both of whom have passed away; Samuel, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa; William Charles, who makes his home in California; Robert J., a practicing dentist of Oelwein, Iowa; Edward, at home; Alexander, who is engaged in business at Buffalo Center, Iowa; and three, who died in childhood.

Although in her girlhood Grandma Wilson had but a common-school education, she has always been a great reader and student and is well known as a writer of poems. Her verses reveal the author’s love for family and friends and an abiding faith in God. Many have been written on the occasion of the death of a friend or neighbor and have been a source of consolation to many in times of sorrow. She is a great admirer of Theodore Roosevelt and it is her daily prayer that his life may be spared so that he can deliver his message to the people and become the next president. Grandma Wilson celebrated her ninety-third birthday October 15, 1912, at the home of a friend in Burt, and many old-time friends and neighbors gathered to pay their respects. It was an occasion never to be forgotten by those who participated therein. She is one of the well known and honored old ladies of Kossuth county and her well spent life has endeared her to all who knew her.

Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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