WILLIAM WILSON.

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         A member of the board of supervisors of Louisa county and a well known retired agriculturist of Letts is William Wilson, who for many years was identified with the farming interests of Concord township. His birth occurred in Ireland on the 4th of May, 1849, his parents being John and Maria (Courtney) Wilson, also natives of the Emerald isle, born in County Armagh. They emigrated to the United States in 1874, first locating in Louisa county, Iowa, where the father operated a farm until 1886. He then withdrew from agricultural pursuits and retired to Muscatine, where Mrs. Wilson passed away November 16, 1901, but he survived until October 7, 1907. Four children were born to them: Robert, who is living on a farm in Louisa county; William, our subject; John C., a resident of Muscatine; and Elizabeth, the wife of John C. Neil, who is a farmer in Kansas.

         William Wilson, who was twenty-five years of age when his parents emigrated to America, was already an established agriculturist in Louisa county. In the acquirement of his education he attended the common schools of his native land, following which he decided to test the truth of the stories he had so often heard about the opportunities to be found by ambitious young men in the United States. When he was twenty-two years of age he purchased eighty acres of land and after cultivating it for a year disposed of it, buying one hundred and eighty acres in Concord township. He continued to operate this latter property during the remainder of his active career as a farmer. In 1892 he removed to Letts, where for ten years he engaged in the lumber business. He sold out in 1902 and has since been living retired. At the present time he owns one hundred and eighty acres of highly cultivated land in Louisa county, and three . . .

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. . . quarter sections in South Dakota, which he is renting, in addition to his fine residence in Letts.

         On the 2d of March, 1875, Mr. Wilson established a home for himself by his marriage to Miss Anna McLean, a daughter of John W. and Fannie (Preston) McLean, natives of Catlettsubrg, Kentucky. The father was killed during the Civil war, and the mother, who is now seventy-two, continues to reside in the Blue Grass state. Three children were born to them, two of whom are living, Nora, the wife of John Boyd, of Catlettsubrg, Kentucky; and Mrs. Wilson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two daughters: Elizabeth, the wife of W. E. McDaniel, who is in the employ of the Russell Miller Flour Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and May, at home.

         Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is also affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Letts Lodge, No. 245, A.F. & A.M. His political support is always given to the republican party, he having been identified with that body ever since granted the right of franchise by naturalization. He has ever taken an active interest in all political affairs and has served two terms as a member of the board of supervisors. Such success as has been awarded the efforts of Mr. Wilson is the well merited result of industry, perseverance and intelligently directed endeavors, as he came to America practically empty-handed.