J. H. WILSON.

Pg 121

         One of Louisa county’s retired agriculturists now living in Morning Sun, is J. H. Wilson, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, on the 1st of January, 1831. His parents, John and Isabella (McClure) Wilson, were both natives of South Carolina, from which state they removed to Ohio in the pioneer days. They continued to reside there until 1839, when they came to Iowa, locating in Louisa county, where the father entered government land, upon which he erected a log cabin. Here the parents spent the remainder of their days, the father engaging in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of ten children, three of whom are living.

         J. H. Wilson was a lad of only eight years when his parents left Ohio, so that the greater portion of his boyhood and youth were spent in Iowa, in whose common schools he acquired his education. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one at which time his father presented him with a farm, upon which he immediately located, engaging in its cultivation for nine years. In 1862 he rented his land and, taking an ox team started across the prairies to Oregon, going by way of California, where he stopped for a short time. When he reached the coast he engaged in freighting goods across the mountains, for which purpose he was compelled to use ten yoke of oxen on each wagon, owing to the difficulties encountered in getting over the steep passes with a heavy load. He remained on the Pacific coast for three years, then sold his teams and returned to Iowa, once more locating on his farm in Louisa county. For ten years thereafter he engaged in agricultural pursuits, following which he sold his farm and rented a hotel in Muscatine, which he conducted for four years. At the expiration of that period he removed to Morning Sun, where he purchased the property he has ever since occupied. He owns seven pieces of residence property in this town, realizing therefrom a very comfortable amount.

         On the 3d of March, 1869, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Adeline McClurkin, a native of Louisa county and a daughter of Thomas and Julia Ann (Kline) McClurkin, natives of Indiana. They came to Iowa during pioneer days, locating in this county, where the father passed away in 1889. The mother, however, is still living at the venerable age of ninety-one years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born two children, both of whom died in infancy.

Pg 122

         Mr. Wilson, who is a republican, has served as justice of the peace, in addition to which he has held several of the minor township offices. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson manifest their religious belief through their affiliation with the Presbyterian church, of which they have long been members. In the evening of life they are permitted to enjoy the ease and comfort provided by an income which is the result of the capably directed endeavors of their youth.