Mr. Wadsworth traces his American ancestry back to the early settlement of New England, his forefathers landing at Plymouth Rock early in the seventeenth century. He was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, June 27, 1826, and is a son of James L. Wadsworth and Sallie A. Wadsworth, nee Cook. He was educated in the common schools at Litchfield, supplemented by a course in the Danbury (Connecticut) Academy.
His inclination and desires pointed to a mercantile career, and immediately after leaving school, at the age of sixteen, he became a clerk in a general store in Farmington, Connecticut, at a salary of forty dollars per year and board. Three years later he determined to become better posted in the business than the opportunities afforded in a little country town, and accepted a clerkship in a drygoods business in New Haven at a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars per annum. In 1848 he was tendered a position in Macon, Georgia, and in 1851 established himself in business in Savannah. The firm was known as W.C. Wadsworth & Company, and was composed of the subject of this sketch and an uncle of his. In 1854 a yellow fever epidemic devastated the Southern States, and rendered the mercantile business unprofitable. He then sought a new location and settled in Davenport, Iowa. He there opened a drygoods business in 1855, and was successful from the outset. He was a thoroughly experienced merchant, was progressive and always carried the largest stock of goods in the city. In 1861 he opened a retail establishment in Rock Island, and also established a wholesale business in Davenport. Shortly thereafter he sold out both retail houses and devoted his entire time and attention to the interests of his growing wholesale business, which he has conducted successfully up to the present time.
Mr. Wadsworth has from time to time become interested in various other business enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Citizen's National Bank, a director since its organization, and for two years he was president of that well-managed financial institution.
BIOGRAPHIES