JOSIAH S. WILSON
A
lifelong resident of Lucas county, Josiah S. Wilson was born
in Benton township, October 28, 1875, and, growing to manhood
here, has always made agriculture his chief occupation. His parents were
Robert Lee and Nancy (Smith) Wilson, the former a native of
Coshocton county, Ohio, where he was born in 1847, and the
latter of Meigs county, Tennessee, born October 6, 1854. The father died in
Clarke county, this state, in 1895, but the mother is still
surviving and makes her home in that county. In their family
were ten children: Josiah
S., of this review; Mrs. Olive Roberts, born February 13,
1877, of Otter Creek township; Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, whose
birth occurred on January 13, 1879, and who resides in Clarke
county; Lucius, born November 29, 1881, who makes his home
with his mother on the old home farm in Clarke county; Mrs.
Jennie McGee, born January 27, 1883, residing in Le Roy, Iowa;
Harlan, whose natal day was January 29, 1885, of Clarke
county; Charles, born May 30, 1887, also of Clarke county;
Roy, born November 14, 1890, who resides on the home farm with
his mother; Ida, who passed away in December, 1896, in
childhood; and Bessie, the youngest in the family, who also
makes her home with her mother in Clarke county. The three eldest of
these children were born in Lucas county, the succeeding four
in Wayne county and the younger ones in Clarke county.
Josiah
S. Wilson grew to manhood under the parental roof and has
always been a resident of this immediate vicinity. In the acquirement
of his education he attended the common schools and as soon as
old enough took up agricultural labors, early becoming
acquainted with thorough methods and the details of farm work
as well as market conditions and the profitable disposal of
farm products. He
now is engaged in the cultivation of two hundred and forty
fertile acres of land in Otter Creek township which are highly
improved. His
buildings bespeak the prosperity of their owner, being
modernly equipped and in good repair, and he has installed the
most modern machinery for labor-saving purposes in order to
increase the yield of his farm.
He also gives considerable attention to the raising of
live stock, of which he keeps a good grade.
On August 21, 1901, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Gerda Lang, a native of Otter Creek township, where she was born on September 13, 1878, and grew to womanhood, ever having made her home here. Her parents, James Moore and Edna J. (Marsh) Lang, were well known farming people of Lucas county, owning a valuable tract of two hundred and forty acres, well improved. The father was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1839, and the mother in Marietta, Ohio, May 12, 1848. They now reside at San Gabriel, California, the father having practically retired from active labors, although he still owns his farm in this vicinity. The mother was one of Lucas county’s earliest settlers and for many years one of its most successful school teachers. Mr. Lang was employed for many years by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as bridge carpenter before settling upon his farm. He also helped to build the barn on the poor farm of Lucas county. The maternal grandmother of Mrs. Wilson was one of the first passengers to come into Lucas by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy trains. Mr. and Mrs. Lang became the parents of the following children: Ethel, born February 18, 1876, who died when but four years old, on March 3, 1880; Mrs. Wilson, the wife of our subject; Nora, born February 2, 1881, who is a stenographer and resides with her parents at San Gabriel, California; J. Marsh, born January 5, 1886, residing in Jackson township; and Fay, whose natal day was September 22, 1891, and who teaches school in the Golden state. All of these children were born in Otter Creek township. Mr. Lang was among the early pioneers of Lucas county and always played a prominent part in shaping public affairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born seven children: Elma, born at Glenwood, Iowa, May 31, 1902; Theo, born December 15, 1903; Philip, whose natal day is December 2, 1907; Vera, born May 19, 1909; Lura, who was born June 4, 1910; Marvin, born June 11, 1911; and Marie, born June 11, 1912. All except the eldest daughter were born in Otter Creek township.
Josiah S. Wilson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has given evidence of his interest in the development of his section and especially in the cause of education by efficiently serving as a member of the school board for nine years. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church of Otter Creek, in the work of which they take a helpful interest, and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America of Lucas. He is a public-spirited and progressive man, always gladly willing to bear his share in promoting worthy public enterprises and giving as much consideration to the general welfare as to his individual success. His sturdy characteristics, his industry, energy and thrift have made possible a success which places him among the substantial men of his locality and, as he is recognized as such, he is a forceful and serviceable factor in general expansion and enjoys the confidence and good-will of all who know him and the friendship of many who find represented in him those high qualities of character which always elicit admiration.