WILLIAM M. WILSON, attorney at law at Osceola, is one of the
prominent members of the Clarke County bar. He was born in Guilford County, N. C.,
near the city of Greensborough, April 23, 1838, his parents, R. D. and Ruhama
(Spoon) Wilson, being natives of the State of North Carolina. They removed with
their family to Iowa in the spring of 1853, locating in Mahaska County, and in
1860 settled in Warren County, this state, near New Virginia, where the parents
still make their home, the father being now eighty-one years of age and the
mother seventy-five. To them were born six children, five sons and one
daughter, all of whom are yet living. William
M. Wilson was fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Iowa, and
received his primary education in the log school-houses of Mahaska county. In
the fall of 1857 he entered the high school at Oskaloosa where he pursued his
studies until 1861, returning to his home in Warren County at the breaking out
of the late war. He enlisted in Company
D, First Iowa Cavalry, and was immediately sent to Missouri, then to Northern
Texas, most of his term of service being spent West of the Mississippi River.
He served three years and three months, during which time he participated in
many severe engagements, including the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and
the skirmish at Black Water. He was honorably discharged in September, 1864,
when he returned to his home in New Virginia.
In February, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha Fleming, of Warren
County, a daughter of Asa Fleming. After his marriage Mr. Wilson located on a
farm on which was erected a steam saw-mill, which he operated in connection
with attending to his agricultural pursuits, until 1867. He then began reading law under Mr. Conklin,
of Osceola, and also under Judge Chaney. He was admitted to the bar in 1869, at
Indianola, Judge H. W. Maxwell presiding, and was admitted to practice in the
supreme courts in June, 1872. He began the practice of his chosen profession at
Osceola in the fall of 1869, where he has since been actively engaged, and has
established a large and lucrative practice.
Mr. Wilson was elected a member of the State Senate, to represent
Clarke, Lucas and Union counties in the State Legislature. He was elected mayor
of Osceola in the spring of 1875. In 1876 he was appointed receiver of the
First National Bank, of Osceola. In 1880 he was appointed one of the
commissioners to appraise and lay off the Fort Ripley Military reservation, it
having been, by an act of Congress, thrown open for settlers. In 1882 he was
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, one of the commissioners to
establish and locate the United States post office building, at Council Bluffs,
Iowa. In 1885 he was elected First Lieutenant of Company A, Fifth Regiment,
Iowa National Guards, and December 14, of the same year, was promoted to Judge
Advocate with rank of Major, on the staff of Brigadier-General H. H. Wright,
which position he still holds. Mr.
Wilson is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue-lodge, chapter and commandery. He is
also a member of the Good Templars and a life member of the W.C.T.U. and State
Alliance, of Iowa. He has six children living, three boys and three girls – the
oldest girl is married to S. M. Gilbert and now resides in Salem, Dakota. At
the reunion of veteran Union soldiers, held at Creston, Iowa, August 17, 18,
and 19, 1886, Mr. Wilson was chosen as Colonel of the First battalion and
commended with credit.
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke
County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 260-1
