More than forty years ago William WILDMAN came to Taylor county to cast in his lot with its pioneer settlers, and although he faced a difficult problem, he addressed himself to the task which western life presented with steadiness and courage, which as the years have gone by has won him success, as is evidenced by his valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres located in Gay township. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1840, a son of Manassa and Rachel (FOX) WILDMAN, who were likewise natives of that county, the former born June 9, 1815. He was there reared and followed farming throughout his entire business career. His first wife died in 1854, after which he was again married. His family numbered six sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter still survive, the brother of our subject being Joseph WILDMAN, who still lives in Pennsylvania, while the sister is Mary, the wife of Elias COWELL, a resident of Maloy, Ringgold county, Iowa. The father passed to his final reward in 1886, when he was seventy-one years of age.

William WILDMAN was reared on the home farm in the Keystone State [Pennsylvania] and after arriving at of maturity worked in the oil region of that state for a few years. He was married in Greene county, in July, 1867, the lady of his choice being Miss Irene COWELL, a native of that county and a daughter of Jacob COWELL, a farmer of Greene county.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. WILDMAN located on a farm in Greene county, where he rented a tract. He believed, however, that the west offered better agricultural advantages and with the hope of more quickly acquiring a competence, in 1868 he made his way to Taylor county, Iowa, and for three years operated a tract of rented land. At the end of that time he found himself in possession of a sum of money sufficient to invest in property and accordingly became the owner of forty acres of raw land. He built a small house and barn on the place and then gave his attention to the development of the land. In due time he purchased an additional tract of forty acres and still later added eighty acres, so that his place now comprises one hundred and sixty acres, situated on section 27, Gay township. He planted an orchard and evergreen trees and other shrubbery on the place, while in 1903 he replaced his pioneer home with a modern residence. He has also enclosed his lawn with a neat iron fence and his place presents a very attractive appearance. He does general farming and also raises and feeds stock, fattening about eighty head of hogs for the market each year.

Mr. and Mrs. WILDMAN have had eleven children but three of the number died in childhood, while Ora D. died in the spring of 1906 at the age of twenty-six years. The surviving members are: John; Jair; W. R., who is engaged in farming and is also acting as clerk of Gay township; L. W.; Myrtle O., a young lady at home; Mattie P. and Ersel B., also at home.

Mr. WILDMAN gives his political support to the democratic party and cast his first presidential ballot for George B. McCLELLAN in 1864, while his last vote was cast in 1908 for W. J. BRYAN. He has served at various times for twelve years as trustee of the township and for a number of years has been identified with the school board, at the present time serving as its president. He is a Master Mason, belonging to the lodge at Blockton. Mrs. WILDMAN is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Gay Center. Mr. WILDMAN is a man of tried integrity and worth, fully meriting the confidence of the people. More than forty years have come and gone since he arrived in Taylor county and in the intervening period he has been a prominent factor in advancing the agricultural interests of this section of the state. Well known in Bedford, Blockton and various sections of the county, his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to his many friends, by whom he is highly respected and esteemed.

SOURCE:  CROSSON, Frank E. History of Taylor County, Iowa: From The Earliest Historic Times to 1910  Pp. 580 - 581. S.J. Clarke Pub. Chicago. 1910.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008