Wilson, James

WILSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/21/2019 at 16:54:37

James Wilson

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.505)
JAMES WILSON, one of the substantial farmers of Knox Township, is descended from an old American family. James WILSON, his grandfather, was one of the old pioneers of Perry County, Ohio, having settled there when the Indians were plentiful. He was from the Cumberland Mountains in Maryland, and when he first settled in Ohio, they had great trouble with the Indians, and Mrs. WILSON would barricade the house when her husband was away. They reared a family of nine children: Jonathan, Michael, James, Thomas, William (who died at the age of 17 years), Elizabeth, Rachel, Sarah, and Martha. The father cleared his farm of 160 acres from heavy timber, and besides this, he owned 80 acres in Van Wert County. He died at the age of 75 years and was a member of the Methodist Church. He married Martha ASHBY, a native of Maryland. Mr. WILSON served as County Judge and was an honorable and upright man. Thomas WILSON, a son of the above and the father of our subject, was born in Perry County, Ohio, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He married Abigail SELLERS, a daughter of John and Martha SELLERS, who were early settlers of Ohio and of German descent. Mr. WILSON came out to the Des Moines River near Oskaloosa when a young man and before there were any settlers there, but afterward returned to Perry County, Ohio, where he lived on a farm the remainder of his life. He was the father of three children: Francis, James and John. Mr. And Mrs. WILSON were members of the Methodist Church. He died at the age of 45 years and was a hard-working and industrious man.

James WILSON, his son and the subject of this sketch, was born September 20, 1849, in Perry County, Ohio. At the age of 21 years, in 1871, he came to his present farm of 160 acres of wild land, which, by perseverance and industry, he has converted into a well tilled and fertile farm. He has since added to this place until he now owns 240 acres of land. He was married in Marysville, Missouri, to Maria A. HAMMOND, daughter of William G. and Mary E. (HATCHER) HAMMOND. To Mr. And Mrs. WILSON have been born five children: Cora, Rosa, Dora, Orin, and Oley. William G. HAMMOND was a native of Maine, but resided for a time in Perry County, Ohio, and then moved to Nodaway County, Missouri. He was the father of five children: Finley, Jesse, Malinda, Maria and Lena. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. WILSON. Mr. WILSON has taken an active interest in the schools. He was the pioneer settler on his farm, has made all its improvements, and now stands deservedly high as a man whose word is as good as his bond. His children descend from an old pioneer stock, who were the real founders of this country.