Wilson, Ira S 1831-1909 & Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby Family

WILSON, MCLARIN, OGLESBY, OGLESBERRY, LINDSEY, LEARY

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/13/2021 at 13:53:02

Wilson, Ira S. 1831-1909 and Margaret E. Oglesby Family (Some question if his birth year was 1831 or 1837.)

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. Story was on page 50. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

Ira S. Wilson was born October 18, 1837 at Coldwater, Michigan. He married Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby in 1864 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Their first child was born at Little Rock, their second at Glenwood, Iowa, and the next three at Rock Valley. After settling in Rock Valley, they spent the rest of their lives here, and both are buried in the Rock Valley Cemetery. Leon Wilson is a surviving son. He is eighty-seven years old and makes his home at Valley Manor in Rock Valley. As a boy, Leon helped his father do surveying by carrying the surveying chain. After he grew to manhood, he worked on three different railroad sections, and he also worked at Al Schemmer’s gravel pit, using a team of horses to move the gravel.

Ira Wilson and his father, John Wilson, took the first claims in Rock Township on Section 30, one and one-half miles southwest of Rock Valley. This was in the spring of 1868. They returned to Sioux City and remained there until the next spring, when they erected cabins upon their claims.

Their claims were later the Ernisse and Gilbert farms; hence the small body of water there became known as “Ernisse Lake,” which is sometimes even today referred to by that name.

Ira S. Wilson was the grandfather of the late Mrs. Olin (Mae) Henderson, who was born in Rock Valley and who lived her entire life here. Many times Mrs. Henderson told her family that the lake should have been named for her people since the land was first theirs. Ira Wilson served in the 29th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. Letters dated 1865, which he wrote to his father while in the service, have been loaned to the Rock Valley Public Library by the Henderson family. Ira became a surveyor in Sioux County and active in the community. In 1887 the following notice appeared in a town newspaper under the society column: “Jones Post, GAR; No. 387. Post meets on the first Wednesday on or before full moon in each month, at the Oddfellows’ Hall. Ira S. Wilson, Adjutant.”

The land homesteaded by the Wilsons later belonged to H.H. Pember, Sr. The land now belongs to Richard and Willard Wissink.

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a family report on ancestry.com ( by other family members) Ira Simeon Wilson was born 15 Oct 1831 Coldwater Brach, MI died 8 Feb 1909 at Rock Valley IA. His parents were John Wilson 1804-1892 and Margaret Cross Mc Lare/Larin 1810-1863
He married Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby born 20 Nov 1843 at LittleRock Arkansas, died 22 Feb 1913. She had been married previously to Joel Thomson Leach 1840-1962. She was the daughter of James Oglesberry 1806-1850 and Emily Mila Lindsey 1814-1870.
The Wilson Children were:
1.Margaret E. Mc Donald 1867-1960
2.Sarah E. Wilson 1869-1956
3.Emma Wilson 1870 -1870
4.Bertha F. Wilson 1871-1936
5.Leota Isobell Wilson 1885-1960
6.Leon Wilson 1888-1876.

Obituaries transcribed by Beth De Leeuw.
OBITUARY OF IRA S. WILSON
From the Saturday, February 20, 1909 Alton Democrat:
Ira Simeon Wilson, Patriot and Pioneer
Contributed by Rev. W.I. Murphy, Rock Valley
Ira Simeon Wilson was born at Coldwater, Michigan October eighteenth 1831 and departed this life at his home in Rock Valley Iowa February eighth 1909 aged seventy-seven years and three months and twenty days. The subject of this sketch lived in Michigan till he grew to manhood and received such educational advantages as the schools of his day and locality afforded and of these he availed himself to the best of his ability. In 1856 he came to Iowa -- then in his twenty-fourth year -- and located at Tabor in Fremont county. August eleventh 1862 -- filled with the spirit of patriotism and love of country and true to his principle and duty as he saw it -— he enlisted in the federal army as a private in Company B Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He served his country zealously and bravely for three years and was honorably discharged from the service August tenth 1865.
He was married October fifteenth 1864 to Margaret Leach at Little Rock, Arkansas. Of this union were born four daughters and two sons — all of whom survive him except one son who died in infancy.
He located in Sioux county in 1869 —forty years ago when the country was sparsely settled—and suffered the privations incident to pioneer days. He was elected county supervisor in the early settlement of the county. He also served two consecutive terms as county surveyor and made a capable and efficient official. A year ago he underwent a surgical operation from which he never fully recovered—but bore his affliction with patience until death relieved him of his sufferings. We are reminded by this act of providence that life is but a shadow and that we pass away as the dew before the morning sun. The cares and the joys and the fears of life alike find an end. May the pathway of life ever be illuminated with the light of hope that reaches within the vale of immortality. The funeral services occurred at the Methodist church Thursday afternoon of last week conducted by the pastor Rev. Frank Travis — after which the remains were laid to rest in Valley View cemetery. The sympathy of the community is extended to the sorrowing ones in their hour of sadness and affliction.
From the February 17, 1909 Sioux County Herald:
Ira S. Wilson, one of the pioneers of Sioux county and a veteran of the civil war, died at his home in Rock Valley of a urinary trouble on Monday morning, Feb. 8 after several months illness; he was 77 years old, being born in 1831 at Coldwater, Mich., came to Fremont Co., Iowa, in 1856 and on Aug. 31, 1865, enlisted in the 29th Iowa infantry, participating in the battles in and around Vicksburg and in Arkansas; was discharged Aug. 20, 1865. Was married in 1864 in Little Rock, Ark. to Margaret E. Leach who, with a son and four daughters survives him.

OBITUARY OF MARGARET E. OGLESBY WILSON
From the Hull Index, February 28, 1913:
Saturday the Angel of Death visited the home of Mrs. Ira S. Wilson and in her departure took with it the life and soul of the mother, Mrs. Margaret E. Wilson. For some time she had, been suffering from pleuro pneumonia and was called upon to answer her summons.
Margaret E. Leach was born at Little Rock, Arkansas, November 20, 1844 and departed this life at her home in Rock Valley, Saturday, February 22, 1913 at the age of 69 years 3 months. She was married to Ira S. Wilson October 15, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas where they lived until 1868, when they moved to Glenwood, Iowa, living there only a short time. In 1869 they came to sioux county locating near Rock Valley, where they lived until 1873, when they moved to Sioux City residing there seven years, when they again sought Rock Valley, where they have lived since. In 1909 her husband was called from her side, and since, she has plodded the way alone, with only her children for comforters. She was the mother of six children four girls and two sons, one son dying in infancy.
Funeral services were held Monday at 5:30 o'clock in the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. C. H. Young after which she was laid to res beside the remains of her husband in the Valley View cemetery.
The bereaved ones have the sympathy of the entire community in their hour of need.
(Originally posted by Janet Bosler)
* * * * * * * * * *
From the Rock Valley Bee, February 28, 1913:
MARGARET ELIZABETH WILSON
Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Wilson died at her home in Rock Valley Saturday, February 22, after an illness of several days with pneumonia. Mrs. Wilson was one of the pioneers of Sioux county having come here with her husband over forty years ago and this place has been her home almost continuously since that time.
The deceased was born at Little Rock, Arkansas, November 20th, 1843, and at the time of her death had reached the ripe age of sixty-nine years, three months and two days. She was married in 1864 to Ira Simeon Wilson at Little Rock, Ark., and five years later with her husband came to Sioux county. Here they lived and worked together until about five years ago when Mr. Wilson passed on to the great beyond. Mrs. Wilson continued to make Rock Valley her home and most of the time since some of her children have been at home with her.
The deceased leaves to mourn her death four daughters and one son all of whom live in Rock Valley except one Mrs. Len McDonald who lives in the west. The other children are Mrs. Eli Kewley, Mrs. Osbourne, Miss Leota and Leon Wilson.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Monday at 2 p.m. conducted by Rev. C. H. Young and interment was made in the Valley View cemetery The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of many friends in this community in their great sorrow.
NOTE:
(The Sioux County Cemetery Index has no entry for her, although it does have one for her apparent husband.)
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Alton Democrat issue of 1 Mar 1913, Rock Valley column.
Another home is made sad, a familiar voice is hushed, by the ruthless hand of death. Mrs. Margaret E. Wilson passed from the busy stage of action Saturday, February twenty-second, due to pleuro pneumonia. All that loving hands could do, and all that medical skill could do, was of no avail, and she succumbed to the inevitable law of nature, that all must die. The subject of this sketch was born at Little Rock, Ark., November 20th 1843, aged sixty-nine years, three months and two days. She was married to Ira Wilson at Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 15, 1864. After residing there for several years, they moved to Glenwood Iowa, and after a brief residence there they came to Sioux county in 1869 and located on a homestead what is now known as the Gilbert farm two miles southwest of town. After residing there several years adversity came, and they lost their home by fire. They moved to Sioux city where they lived for seven years, and finally returned to Sioux county and lived on the now R. Klay farm, for several years, and then moved to Rock Valley where she has lived till the time of her passing. She was the mother of seven children, two died in infancy, one being by a former marriage. She was an industrious woman and did her duty to her family and her fellowmen as she saw it. Her funeral occurred Monday afternoon at the Methodist church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. H. Young, after which she was interred in Valley View cemetery. She leaves five children to mourn her death. The children have the sympathy of the community in their sad affliction, and we commend them to the comforter of all hearts for consolation.

OBITUARY of John Wilson 1804-1893 Father of Ira S. Wilson His wife died in 1863.
From the Alton Democrat of Jan 7, 1893 Rock Valley News.
The aged Mr. Wilson died here last week. He was about ninety years of age and one of the first settlers in this locality.
From the Rock Valley Register of Jan 6, 1893.
John Wilson, an old resident of this locality, and who had lived, and labored, and struggled, and contended in this unfriendly world for only one short decade less than a century, died on last Thursday. The storm and tempest, and for him there was much of it, have done their worst; and the restless and troubled heart is forever stilled. Peace to his ashes.
(in the 1850 census the family was living in Litchfield, Hillsdale MI, John was b. 1804 New York, Margaret Mclarin was born 1811 Canada, children were - Melissa 1836, Ira S. 1838, William 1842, Jospehine 1847. In 1860 They were at Scott, Fremont Co. IA John 52, Margaret 49, Children Ira 23, Wm. 19, Jospehine 13, Bryon 10. Mrs. Margaret died between 1860-1870 as in th 1870 Census of Sioux county, Tsp 97, John was 66, Ira 33, Ira's wife Maggie 24, Sallie 3, and Emma 2 mo. In 1885 Ia Census John was living in Rock Valley with son Ira's family. Ira's obituary was in the Alton Democrat of Feb 20, 1909)

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This picture of Ira Wilson is taken from the 1908 Sioux county Atlas Part IV, section 3, page 31.

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