NORRIS WILSON

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Mr. Norris Wilson and Mrs. Norris Wilson

Norris Wilson, owning and operating an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres on section 31, Springdale township, is likewise prominently identified with the financial interests of Cedar county as the president of the Downey Savings Bank. His birth occurred in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of April, 1865, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Eves) Wilson, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. The father still resides in Pennsylvania, while the mother, who also spent her entire life in that state, was called to her final rest in 1901 when sixty-six years of age. They reared a family of four children, as follows: J. F., who lives three miles west of Downey, in Johnson county; J. M., who passed away in 1904 and who owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres three miles south of Downey; Norris, of this review; and Francis H., who resides with his father in Pennsylvania.

Norris Wilson spent the first twenty-nine years of his life on the home farm with his parents and in 1894 came to Iowa, locating in Johnson county, three miles west of his present home. He has resided in this part of the state continuously since and has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits with excellent results. After arriving in Iowa he worked as a farm hand by the month for one year and then gave his attention to the cultivation of rented land until 1903. In that year he bought a tract of one hundred and forty acres on section 31, Springdale township, and has been busily engaged in its operation to the present time. The property is situated a half mile west of Downey and is lacking in none of the improvements and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate Mr. Wilson raises high grade stock of all kinds and has met with success in both branches of his business. He assisted in the organization of the Downey Savings Bank, has been one of its directors since 1903 and for the past three years has acted as president of the institution.

On the 30th of September, 1894, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Haymen, who was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1868, her father being Peter Haymen. Mr. Wilson has a nephew, Leland Eyer, who has resided with him for the past seven years, and a sister-in-law, Ila Haymen, also makes her home with him.

In politics Mr. Wilson is a republican and he is now ably discharging the duties devolving upon him in the capacity of township clerk. He belongs to the Friends church in Pennsylvania, having joined the denomination in early life. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at West Liberty and the Woodmen of the World at Downey, and is likewise a worthy exemplar of the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge at West Branch and the chapter at Iowa City. He has gained a large circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, and his salient characteristics are such as have won for him the unqualified respect, esteem and good will of his fellowmen.