WILLIAM M. WILSON.

Pg 16

         For many years agricultural pursuits engaged the attention of William M. Wilson, who since 1906 has been living retired in Morning Sun, where he owns a very pleasant residence. He was born in Washington county, Illinois, on the 26th of May, 1838, and is a son of John and Isabella (McClure) Wilson, the father a native of Ireland and the mother of South Carolina. The family migrated to Iowa in 1839, where the father entered some government land, upon which he erected a log cabin that served as a home for several years thereafter. Here the mother passed away on the 31st of May, 1866, but he survived until the 27th of December, 1877, and was laid to rest beside his wife in Brown’s cemetery. They were the parents of eight children, but four of whom are now living.

         The education of William M. Wilson was somewhat limited, owing to the poor and inadequate provision made for schools in Iowa during his boyhood. He attended the brief and irregular sessions of the district school, which was held in a log house where rough slabs served for benches and ferule was . . .

Pg 17

. . . deemed just as essential a factor of education as the text-book. After laying aside his school books he assisted in the cultivation of the farm, remaining at home until he was twenty-one. He subsequently engaged in farming on a tract of land which he obtained from his father and to which he later added by purchase until he had acquired one hundred and seventy-five acres. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1906, at which time he retired and moved to Morning Sun. A large portion of his farm having been the homestead on which he spent his boyhood and youth, Mr. Wilson had lived on this place for sixty-eight years at the time of his retirement. He engaged in general farming, making a specialty of raising and feeding cattle, and had acquired a very fine property and comfortable competence, being so situated now that he enjoys the ease assured by an income sufficiently large to provide all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life.

         Mr. Wilson was married in 1864 to Miss Miriam Conway, a native of England, her natal day being the 6th of July, 1843, and a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Conway, who started for the United States in 1850, but the mother passed away on board of the vessel and was buried in the Gulf of Mexico. The family located in Des Moines county, Iowa. There were six children but only two are now living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born the following children: Winona, the wife of J. Z. Wilson, of Des Moines county; William G., who is a resident of Louisa county; Samuel F., also of this county; Leah R., who married T. D. Wilson, now living in the state of Washington; Nellie, who was born on the 18th of September, 1873, and died on the 13th of December, 1893; John who is living in Des Moines county; Sarah E., who married B. C. Owens, of Henry county; Clarissa, who is deceased; R. G., who is a resident of the state of Washington; James H., who lives in this county; and Mary E., who is at home.

         Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the United Presbyterian church, and his political support he gives to the republican party but has never held office. Practically the entire life of Mr. Wilson has been spent in Louisa county upon the farm which was endeared to him by the associations of his youth as well as those of later years.