Eugene Wilson

DARBY, JOHNS, ROWE, WILSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/6/2004 at 10:54:29

Eugene Wilson, mayor of Winterset and a well known grain dealer and elevator man of this city, was born in Adair county, lowa, near the line separating that county from Madison county, on the 12th of February, 1871. His parents were Jerry M. and Laura M. (Darby) Wilson, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. He spent his boyhood upon the home farm and early became familiar with agricultural work. He was given more than usual educational advantages, as, following his completion of the public-school course, he entered Highland Park College of Des Moines lowa. Upon leaving that institution he engaged in farming a one hundred and twenty acre tract, which his father gave him in Grand River township, this county. After a time, however, he leased the home place and continued to operate it until his father's death. The property was then divided among the heirs and Eugene Wilson inherited three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land. He carried on general farming and stock-raising until 1908, when he rented his land and came to Winterset. He then engaged in the real-estate business, which he had previously followed to a small extent, and about a year later concentrated his attention upon the settling up of his father's estate, of which he was administrator and which represented about two hundred thousand dollars. He next engaged in the automobile business but after about two years turned his attention to the buying and shipping of grain, in which he is still engaged. He has an excellent elevator and handles many carloads of grain annually. His business methods are above suspicion and as he possesses excellent judgment and is energetic and aggressive the volume of his business is constantly increasing. He is president of the National Bank of Macksburg and is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Winterset.

On the 14th of December, 1907, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Pearl Rowe, a native of this county and a daughter of Henry and Ahnira (Johns) Rowe. Her father is a horse dealer, who is residing in Macksburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two children: Winter Mamie and Wyman.

Mr. Wilson is a standpat republican, believing in the integrity and wisdom of the party that for so many years successfully governed the country and that still has so large a voice in the control of affairs. In the spring of 1913 he was elected mayor of Winterset and is still holding that office, proving an efficient and incorruptible official. For two terms he held the office of county surveyor of Adair county while living in that county. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodges of those organizations at Macksburg. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active part in its work. He comes of a family that has long been honored in this county and is proving a worthy successor of his father and grandfather, manifesting marked business ability and at all times conforming his life to high ethical standards.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915"