SAMUEL A. WILSON

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. S. A. Wilson

For the past six years Samuel A. Wilson has been a resident of Mechanicsville and his attention has been given in considerable measure to buying and shipping stock, his business interests being carefully managed and successfully conducted. Previous to this time he made his home upon a farm which he still owns and which is conveniently located a half mile south of the village, in Pioneer township. It was in that township that Mr. Wilson first opened his eyes to the light of day, his birth occurring March 3, 1863. His father, William Wilson, was a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Samuel Wilson, who cast in his lot with the early settlers of Cedar county, Iowa, in 1848. There were few men within its borders at that period and evidences of the former Indian occupancy were frequently seen. Considerable wild game was still to be found and some wild animals still occupied their former haunts. The land was just as it came from the hand of nature and the forest growth and the wild grasses remained untouched. To this favored region came William Wilson, who purchased land in Fremont township and developed a farm. Later he sold that property and bought a tract in Pioneer township, near Mechanicsville. He completed the house, which had already been begun, fenced his fields and cultivated his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he made a valuable property. After rearing his family thereon he rented his land and removed to Mechanicsville, where he now resides at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His wife, at the age of seventy-one years, is a well preserved lady and both are enjoying good health. Of their children three are yet living: Mary L., now the wife of Albert Johnson, of Mechanicsville; Emma, the wife of R. D. Welton, a farmer of Pioneer township; and Samuel A.

Upon the home farm near Mechanicsville Samuel A. Wilson spent his youthful days and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. His knowledge, however, has been largely supplemented by reading, observation and experience, for in the school of life he has learned many valuable lessons. He remained with his father until after he had attained his majority and was married. It was on the 8th of March, 1888, that he wedded Miss Elizabeth Ethell, who was born and reared in Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas Ethell, who there reared his family and spent his last days.

Following his marriage Samuel A. Wilson settled on his farm south of Mechanicsville, rebuilt and remodeled the home there, put up a good barn and fenced his fields. In fact the work of improvement was carried on along modern and progressive lines and stock-raising and feeding formed an important feature of his business. He raised the largest and heaviest weight calf on record, the weight at twelve months being twelve hundred and ninety pounds. In 1904 he rented his land and removed to Mechanicsville, where he is now associated with Frank Leech in buying and shipping stock, conducting an extensive business. He also became one of the promoters and is one of the stockholders and directors of the Mechanicsville Savings Bank. He owns two residence properties in town and the prosperity which he enjoys is indicative of a life well spent in its devotion to practical and high ideals in business, his unfaltering labor and keen discernment winning him gratifying success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson has been born a daughter, Dollie Mae, now a student in Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Presbyterian church of Mechanicsville and the various auxiliary societies, in the work of which she takes an active and helpful part. Mr. Wilson belongs to the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. Both he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star. A democrat in his political views, he has served as a delegate to county and state conventions and his opinions carry weight in the local councils of the party. He has served on the town board and on the petit and grand juries and wherever the best interests of the community are involved he may be found as a stanch supporter of projects and measures for the general good. His friends find him a genial gentleman, never too busy to be cordial or too cordial to be busy.