MOSES CHILSON.

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         Although still residing on his farm in Morning Sun township, Louisa county, Moses Chilson is living a retired life, leaving the farm work to others. He was born in Illinois on the 10th of January, 1832, a son of Moses and Mary (Woodcocks) Chilson, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in an early day. They later took up their abode in Arkansas, where the father was called to his final rest, but the mother departed this life in Louisa county. Their family numbered eight children but our subject is the only one now living.

         Moses Chilson was reared in the state of his nativity and his educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools. He remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-one, when he began farming on his own account in the Prairie state. In 1856 he came to Louisa county, crossing the Mississippi river on the ice March 9 with a very heavily loaded wagon. Arriving in this county, he purchased a farm one mile east and half of a mile south of his present home, which tract of eighty acres he later sold and bought the farm in Morning Sun township which is still his home. This place consists of one hundred and sixty acres, ten of which is timber, and is located on section 30. He has made all of the improvements upon his farm, erecting a good country home and substantial outbuildings that furnish ample shelter for grain and stock. For many years he was engaged in general farming and by his energy and good business ability won success that now permits him to spend the evening of his life in honorable retirement. However, he still retains his residence on the farm and enjoys the rest and quiet which only a rural home affords. The town of Marsh is now located in the midst of his farm, he owning land on both sides of it.

         It was while still a resident of Illinois that Mr. Chilson was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Rebecca Stafford, whom he wedded November . . .

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. . . 30, 1853. She was born in Delaware and after a happy married life of more than four decades was called to her final rest in 1894, her remains being interred in Morning Sun cemetery. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chilson were born eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely: James S., a resident of Louisa county; John, deceased; B. M., also a resident of this county; Mary and Francis M., who have departed this life; Anna, the wife of J. Marsh Riggle, of Henry county, Iowa; Amanda, deceased; and Rebecca, the wife of Joseph G. Miller, who now has charge of his father-in-law’s farm and resides thereon. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children, Lloyd and Blanch.

         Politically Mr. Chilson is a republican and although he has filled several public offices of minor importance, he has never aspired to public position. Mr. Chilson is well known not only in his home locality, but throughout Louisa county, for his residence here covers a period of fifty-five years. He has seen the wild prairie converted into rich and cultivable fields and the country thickly settled with a contented and prosperous people and he has done his full share in the work of development and improvement in his section. He has ever been a man of upright principles and strict integrity and in the highest and best sense of the term he is ever and essentially a gentleman, of which fact his friends bear witness.