Jesse L. WION, who owns and is successfully operating one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 9, Bloomington township [Decatur County], is a native of that township. His natal day was the 21st of March, 1873, and he is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry WION, who now reside in Grand River township. To them have been born seven children, those aside from our subject being: George [Jacob (1868-1941)], of Grenada, Colorado; John F., who is operating the homestead; Mrs. [Rosalie Alice] C[harles]. E[verett]. McLAUGHLIN, of Burrell township; Mrs. Fred CASH, of Grand River township; Lou, the wife of Allen ANDREWS, of Grand River township; and one [Nancy T.] who died in infancy.

Jesse L. WION was reared upon the homestead and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. During his boyhood and youth he devoted much of his time to assisting his father with the work of the farm and since he was twenty-four years of age he has followed agricultural pursuits independently. About 1904 he purchased his present home farm of one hundred and twenty acres and has since made all of the improvements upon the place. It is now in excellent condition, the fields are inclosed by strong fences and the buildings are well designed and adequate for their purposes. He is up-to-date and energetic and derives a good financial return from his land. In 1897 Mr. WION married Miss Laura E. PAYTON, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. PAYTON, now residents of Kellerton. She was born in Norton county, Kansas, on the 11th of January, 1880, and is one of eight children, seven of whom are living, the others being: Mrs. Charles WHITTAKER, of Simla, Colorado; Mrs. Chauncey BOGUE, of Ogden, Utah; and A[lbert]. I. (1899-1970), H. A., L. L., and C. A., all of whom are operating the home farm in Bloomington township. Mrs. WION was ten years of age when brought to this county and received the greater part of her education here. By her marriage she has become the mother of two sons: Henry Lester, who was born November 2, 1899; and Jesse Arthur, who was born September 4, 1902.

Mr. WION is a republican and gives his loyal support to the principles and candidates of that party. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Kellerton and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs. They also belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Kellerton and no worthy cause lacks their support and cooperation. Mr. WION has spent his entire life in this county and the fact that those who have known him since earliest boyhood hold him in high esteem is proof of his uprightness and probity.

NOTE: Jesse L. WION was born in 1880, and died in 1961. Jesse's wife Laura E. (PAYTON) WION was born in 1880, and died in 1961. They were interred at Elk Chapel Cemetery, Decatur County, Iowa. Jesse and Laura were residing in Mount Ayr by 1919. Albert I. WION was interred at Elk Chapel Cemetery.

See Jesse's account of the April 4, 1907 tornado that went through Ringgold and Decatur Counties.

NOTE: Jesse L. WION died in 1961. Laura E. (PAYTON) WION also died in 1961. They were interred at Elk Chapel Cemetery located north of Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa.

SOURCE: HOWELL, J. M. and SMITH, Heman Conoman. History of Decatur County, Iowa, and Its People Vol. II. Pp. 333-34. S.J. Clarke Publ. Co. Chicago. 1915

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2009