Clarence E. Wilson

BARNETT, GODBY, THOMAS, WILSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/2/2004 at 14:00:36

Clarence E. Wilson, of Penn township, is one of the most progressive and energetic of the farmers of that township, and his place on section 1 is as finely improved as any farm in the township. In addition to growing the usual crops he raises thoroughbred stock and finds that the two phases of agriculture can best be followed at the same time. He is a native of Penn township, born on the 14th of December, 1871, of the marriage of Christopher and Martha (Newby) Wilson, both natives of Indiana. The father became a resident of Madison county, Iowa, before the day of the railroads and bought land in Penn township of the federal government. For many years he farmed there but the last four years of his life were spent in Earlham. He was successful to a marked degree and acquired almost six hundred acres of land. He passed away on the 26th of March, 1909, but his widow is still living and makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Godby.

Clarence E. Wilson attended the public schools in the neighborhood of the family homestead and supplemented the education thus acquired by study in Earlham Academy -and in Penn College at Oskaloosa, Iowa. When he reached his majority his father took him into partnership and he continued to remain with his parents until the demise of his father. He then purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on section 1, Penn township, and has since utilized his energies in its cultivation and development. It is now splendidly improved, the fields are enclosed with durable fencing, the barns and outbuildings are well adapted for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock, and the fertility of the soil has been carefully conserved. His residence is attractive and commodious, and everything about the place is neat in appearance.

On the 4th of March, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Miss Myrtle Thomas, a daughter of Mark and Almeda (Barnett) Thomas, more detailed mention of whom is made in the sketch of E. M. Thomas, which appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have one child, Audrey M., who is in her first year.

Mr. Wilson is a republican and takes the interest in public affairs that he deems to be the duty of every good citizen. His religious faith is that of the Friends church. He is a stockholder in the Citizens Bank of Earlham but derives the greater part of his income from his agricultural and stock-raising interests. He raises nothing but thoroughbred stock, specializing in shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs. He has found farming a very profitable occupation and also a congenial one, as he prefers out-of-door work and as he values highly the independence of the agriculturist. He believes that the successful operation of a farm demands much expert knowledge and willingness to embody in practice the results of scientific investigators and that the management of the financial phases of agriculture affords ample scope for the exercise of sound business judgment and accordingly endeavors to keep informed as to the latest discoveries in the science of agriculture and to learn exactly the profit that he derives from the various phases of his work. His example is one that contributes in no small degree to the development of a scientific attitude toward farming.

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