Wilson, Horace M.

WILSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/3/2021 at 11:53:55

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.666

HORACE M. WILSON
Prominent among the business men of Lacona for the past fifteen years is Horace M. Wilson, who for the past six years has been cashier of the Bank of Lacona, one of the best managed and safest financial institutions in this section of the country. Mr. Wilson was born in Fulton County, Illinois, December 11, 1868, a son of G.W. Wilson, who was born in the Keystone State, but became an early settler of Fulton County, Illinois, removing thence at an early day. However, in 1868 he removed to Lucas County, Iowa where he opened up a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits.
The son was taken from his native state to Lucas County, this state, during his infancy and there grew to mature years. He was educated in the common and high schools of Lucas County and was employed as a bookkeeper in a grain and lumber business at Chariton for a time. He then took up his abode in Lacona and accepted the position as manager of a grain and lumber business at this place for G.J. Stewart Company, with whom he continued for nine years. He then, in 1902, severed his connection with the latter firm and upon the reorganization of the Bank of Lacona at this place was elected its cashier and has continued in that capacity to the present time. The prosperity which has attended this institution is certainly due in large measures to the efforts of Mr. Wilson, for he is ever found courteous and painstaking with the patrons of the bank and therefore the volume of business transacted over its counters is now of great importance and magnitude. In addition to his duties as cashier of the bank, Mr. Wilson is also conducting a fire insurance business, in which he is meeting with success and the volume of this business has also grown to extensive proportions.
Mr. Wilson was married June 1, 1897 to Miss Clara Shupe, who was born and reared in this city and was engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. Their home has been blessed with a little daughter and son, Mildred and Lisle.
In his political views Mr. Wilson is a Republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was elected and served as school treasurer but aside from that office has filled no public positions, preferring rather to give his undivided time and attention to his private business interests. He is a Master Mason and at the present time is serving as secretary of the Masonic Lodge at Lacona, and at one time served as a delegate to the Grand Lodge. He and his wife are identified with the Eastern Star and with the Rebekah Lodge, while Mr. Wilson is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows Lodge, with which he became identified at Chariton at the age of twenty-one years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they contribute liberally.
In no sense a man in public life, Mr. Wilson has nevertheless exerted an immeasurable influence of the city of his residence; in business life as a financier and promoter of industrial and commercial enterprises; in social circles by reason of a charming and unfeigned cordiality; in politics by reason of this public spirit and devotion to the general good; and in those departments of activity which ameliorate hard conditions of life for the unfortunate by his benevolence and his liberality.