son, as well as his popularity as a citizen, have contributed to give him a wide and popular acquaintance with nearly every resident in the county. He was born on February 4, 1841; was reared in Chelsea, Mass., and there resided until he entered the army. On May 23, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, being mustered out in Boston, on May 25, 1864. He served as a private, except the last year, when he received a corporal's warrant. His father served in Company H, Forty-third Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, for nine months, and a brother served in the same company and regiment as the father, but later enlisted in the First Massachusetts Cavalry and was killed in battle at Weldon Railroad, near Petersburg, Va., in the fall of 1864, when he was a little less than eighteen years of age. On his return from the army, Henry Wilson Jr., started out in business as a clerk for the Chelsea Oil Company, and continued in their employ until he moved to Ames, Iowa, in August, 1878. He was married in January, of that year, and his wife died in January, 1883, at Ames. Mr. Wilson was in the grain business at Ames and other points almost continuously until January, 1887. He was twice elected mayor of Ames, and held that position from 1881 to March, 1883. He has been active in all good work for the improvement of the place which he has made his home, and as a citizen, is highly esteemed. He is an ardent Republican in politics, and an active G. A. R. man, having been chief mustering officer one year, and a member of the Council of Administration, Department of Iowa, G. A. R., two years at different times. He has been a member of the Elsworth Post, at Ames, from shortly after its organization in 1881, and also was its commander one year. He has also been captain of J. L. Geddes' Camp 58, Sons of Veterans, of Ames, joining shortly after its organization. He was very active in military circles in Massachusetts, and was captain of Company H, First Massachusetts Infantry (militia), over three years, and was also a member of it in various capacities as officer and private, fourteen years. He is at present clerk of the district court of Story County, his second term expiring on the first Monday in January, 1891. He was married, the second time in June, 1888. Mr. Wilson has been the owner, in part, of the Ames Intelligencer since January 1, 1890. He is always interested in military and fraternity matters, and is one of the public-spirited citizens of the county. In the different official positions he has held, he is recognized as a faithful incumbent, and his successful career in the different 'capacities has been heartily endorsed by all. He is positive and aggressive in everything with which he is connected, but he always concedes those who oppose him the same honesty of purpose which marks his own character.
Orpheus W. Wilson, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, residing on Section 36, Grant Township, owes his nativity to the " Empire State," where he was born in November, 1841, being the first in order of birth of seven children, all sons, born to his parents. His father was born in New York on the 22d of October, 1818 (his father having been born on the same day of the same month just thirty years previous), and died June 20, 1890, aged nearly seventy-two years. His widow, whose maiden name was Harriett A. Swinning, still survives. She was born in 1821, of German and Yankee origin, and reared the following children: O. W., Charles W. (who died in Wisconsin, leaving a widow and child, who still survive), William (deceased), Alfred (unmarried, lives in New York), George E. (married Miss Frances Brooks, a native of New