George W. Wilson

WILSON, GEO. W. — Victor. Among the many prominent citizens of this city none are more worthy of special mention in connection with the city of Victor than the subject of this sketch. No man living, or dead, ever did so much for the building up of Victor as he. He was its founder and has been its warm friend since. He built the present depot and presented it, together with seven acres of land, and the right of way to the railroad company. Was born in Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 1st day of January, 1828, where he was brought up and educated in the schools of that city, receiving an academic education, which prepared him for entrance into the freshman class of the Williamstown College, at Williamstown, Massachusetts (the same in which Gen. Garfield afterward graduated), where he remained four years, graduating regularly in the year 1850. After his graduation he returned to his native city and studied law one year, was then elected justice of the peace, and appointed postmaster, which positions he held while he continued to live in Salem. In the year 1864 he came west and entered the land on which Victor is now situated, but did not remove until the year 1864, when the railroad was about to be built to this point. He removed to this place permanently and laid out the town, and made the liberal gifts before mentioned to the railroad company. Well may he be called the father of Victor. He established the first scales that were ever built here, and was the first regular station agent for the railroad company, which positions he held for two years from May 1862. In 1864 he was drafted into the army and became connected with company F, Fifteenth Iowa, which he joined at Atlanta, Georgia, on the 14th day of November, 1864, just in time to witness the great conflagration of that city before Sherman started on his ever memorable march to the sea, which he accompanied, and was present at the taking of Savannah and at the surrender of Johnson to Sherman. Was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged at Newark, New Jersey, on the 2d day of September, 1865, when he returned to Victor, where he has ever since lived to enjoy the respect and confidence of all who know him. He was married on the 1st day of October, 1849, at Salem, Ohio, to Miss Louisa I. Black a lady of refinement, having received an academic education at Salem, and spent some time in teaching. She is still living and devotes herself to the care of her home and children, of whom she has three: Mary L., Genett M. (now Mrs. William D. Simpson), William H. (a young gentleman of nineteen years).

SOURCE: The History of Iowa County, Iowa, Union Historical Company, Des Moines, Iowa, 1881, p. 606-7