WAGGONER, JOHN, contractor and builder and manufacturer sash and blinds; born in Coshocton county, Ohio, June 16, 1824; he was brought up there and learned the trade of cabinet making; he came to Iowa and arrived here March 28, 1851, and was one of the early settlers here; there are only a few in business here now that were here when he came; he engaged in cabinet making; he was in the mercantile business from 1852 to 1855, and was in the chair business for six years, and then engaged in contracting and building; he has built some of the best buildings in the city; he also has a planning mill in connection with his business, and is engaged in manufacturing sash, blinds and doors; he married Miss Hettie F. Coe, from Illinois, September 8, 1855; she died August 12, 1865; they have two children, David C. and Sarah Eveline.

WALKER, ROBERT, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Indianapolis; born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 20, 1804; in 1808 his parents removed to Ohio, where he remained until his removal to this county in 1852, and has resided on the same farm since that time; owns 120 acres of land; he married Miss Ruth Brown, in 1834; she was born in Virginia; has one daughter, Rachel, wife of A. Sampson.

WALKER, STEPHEN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Cedar; farm 80 acres; was born in Hartford, Connecticut, September 14, 1828; lived there thirteen years, and then went to Charlestown, South Carolina; lived there nine years, and then traveled until 1861, and then located in this county; he married Mrs. Eliza Knowlton in 1863, a native of Gallia county, Ohio. They have one son and one daughter, Friend E. and Alma F. He served about seventeen months in the late war, in Company G, Seventh Iowa Cavalry.

WALTON, D. M., retired, Oskaloosa; born in Washington county, Pa., in 1874; was brought up there and was engaged in farming, milling, and merchandizing in Washington and Greene counties for many years; he came to this county, to Oskaloosa, in October, 1868, and engaged in the mercantile business here for three years; he married Miss Mary Drake, from Green county, Pa., in October, 1834; she died in July, 1859, leaving four children, John W., Samuel, Daniel, and Edward; they lost six children; (one of his sons James was in the the army; enlisted in first Regiment West Virginia Cavalry, Co. B, in August, 1861; he was in thirty-seven engagements, among them was Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg; he died in April, 1870); in November, 1877, Mr. Walton married Harriet Alexander, from Pennsylvania.

WALTON, JOHN W., merchant, postmaster, and hotel proprietor, Leighton; was born in Greene county, Pa., November 24, 1840, and lived there until October, 1868; then came to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he lived until July, 1874, and then removed to Leighton; he married Miss Carrie J. Kimball, of Marshall county, W. Va., August 21, 1861; they have two sons and three daughters, Mary B., Daniel E., Carrie J., John W., and Daisie M.

WALZ, B., proprietor Eddyville brewery; born in Germany in 1838; came to America in 1859; married Mary Meeher in 1867; she was born in Muscatine county, Iowa; they have five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. W. enlisted in Co. G., 57th Illinois Infantry in 1862, and was discharged in 1865.

WARING, H. M., attorney at law, of the firm Hole, Hillis, & Waring, attorneys, New Sheron; born in Northumberland county, Pa., in 1857; came to this State in 1859, and to this county in 1860, when his father was stationed as a minister of the M. E. Church.

WARREN, D. E., of the firm of Warren & Collins, furniture dealers and undertakers, New Sharon; born in Jefferson county, N. Y. in 1836; emigrated with his parents to Elkhart county, Ind., in 1837, and came to reside in this State in in 1865. He afterwards returned to Michigan and remained until his removal to this county in 1872; he owns 120 acres of land; he enlisted in the Twelfth Ind. Cavalry in the late war, and served until the regiment was mustered out. He married Elizabeth Brannon in 1878; she was born in Michigan. Dr. James L. Warren. From Donnel's "Pioneers of Marion County" we learn that among those who settled in this [Black Oak] township at a very early date, was Dr. James L. Warren, who died at his residence, near Peoria, Mahaska county, January 18, 1870, age 69 years. He was born in Green county, Tenn., July 1st, 1801, immigrated to Iowa, and settled in Lee county in 1841. He made his first claim in Mahaska county, where he cut some logs and employed a man to put them up in the shape of a cabin. But he afterward abandoned the idea of settling there, and made a claim about three miles southeast of where Pella now is, where he succeeded in planting about twenty acres of corn and wheat in the spring following. He returned to Mahaska county in 1847-8.

WARREN, R. B., miller and farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Peoria; born in Tennessee, in 1829; came to this state in 1841, settling at that time in Lee county; in 1843 he came to this county, his father being one of the first settlers, and built the mill known as Warren's Mills, in 1846; they were afterwards burned, and rebuilt in 1850; they have three run of stone, and do both custom and merchant work; he has held office of township trustee, township clerk, and justice of the peace; he owns 199 acres of land; he married Emily A. Bingaman in 1855; she was born in Kentucky; has eight children, Ida E., J. Lincoln, Granville E., Mary E., R. Wilbur, Mattie M., Orra E. and O. Lillian; he has seen wheat sold for 30c per bushel, and $2.70 ditto, and pork from $1.25 he cut dressed, to $11 gross; they used to go 80 miles to mill, and it took them three weeks to make the trip.

WARREN, WM. T., farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Pella; born in Black Oak Grove, in 1850, his parents being among the earliest settlers; he married Miss A. McCutcheon in 1873; she was born in Ohio; has three children, Clarence, James and John.

WASSOM, MONROE, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Granville; born in this township, in 1851; owns 75 acres of land; he married Miss Mary Williams in 1873; she was born in Richland township; has one son, Cyrus Thomas; lost one daughter, Florence A.

WASSOM, MOSES, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Peoria; born in Tennessee, in 1817; came to this county in 1843; owns 280 acres of land; has held office of school director, constable, township trustee, and justice of the peace; he married Miss Elizabeth Wordside, in 1839; she was born in Tennessee; has three children, Monroe, William and Laura A.

WATCHINSON, JNO., farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Bussey; owns 78 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1823; came to Iowa in 1866, and located on his present farm. Married Elizabeth Gray, in 1847; she was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1827; have four children: Mary L., Sarah L., Alta J., Eva E. Are members of the M. E. Church. Republican.

WATERS, H. B., harness maker, Rose Hill; born in Oskaloosa in 1855; engaged in his present business in Rose Hill, in 1876; married Lou. E. Johnson, in 1878; she was born in 1860. Republican.

WATERS, S. B., physician and surgeon, Rose Hill; owns 30 acres of land; born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1830; came to Iowa in 1853, and settled in this county; married E. J. Jarvis in 1859; she was born in Indiana, in 1840; have seven children, Harry S., Minnie, Hattie, Amy, Bruce, Frank, Eugene B.; has held the offices of clerk, assessor, trustee, etc. Republican.

WATLAND, G., farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. New Sharon; born in Norway in 1835; came to this country and settled in Illinois in 1856, and removed to this county in 1866; owns 180 acres of land; he married Ellen Danielson in 1865; She was born in Norway; has five children, Elsie T., Seward, Ramada, Addie B., and Martha.

WATLAND, OSMAN, farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. New Sharon; born in Norway in '47; came to America in 1853, and lived for several years in La Salle county, Ill., and came to this county in 1865; owns 160 acres of land. He is also connected with Pierce Ratliff Esq., in the sale of agricultural implements, under the firm name of Ratliff & Watland; he holds office of justice of the peace; he married Miss Isabel Sawyer, in 1872; she was born in La Salle county, Ill.; has one child, Jesse N.

WATLAND, THOMAS, farmer, Sec. 11; P.O. New Sharon; born in Norway in 1842; came to Illinois in 1856, and to this county in 1865; owns 200 acres of land; has held office of school director. He married Bertha Cleveland in 1868; she was born in Norway; has four children, Josephine, Mary A., Oscar, and Andrew.

WAY, GEO., blacksmith, New Sharon; born in Morgan county, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1853; came to this county March 1, 1873. He holds office as member of the city council; he married Miss Emma Zech, in 1875; she was born in Penn.; has one child, Wm. LeRoy.

WAY, JOSHUA, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Bussey; owns 1,700 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1822; came to Iowa in 1843. Married Lois Dowel, in 1843; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1827, and died in 1853; had two children, Emily and Lydia; was married again in 1855, to Ruth Ridlen; she was born in Decatur county, Ind., in 1835; have five children: Seth, Chas, Owen, Walter S., Wm. J., and Horace Parker. Republican.

WELCH, F. G., farmer, Scc. 24; P. O. Cedar; farm 260 acres; was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in October, 1836; he lived there until 1860; he then came to this county, but did not locate here until 1866; from 1860 to 1865 he was engaged in shipping sheep from Ohio to this county; he married Miss Maggie S. Simpson, a native of the same county, September 13, 1866; she died March 21, 1874; left two sons, Lavernge and Omar S.; he married again to Elizabeth Slemmons, September 12, 1876, a native of the same county; one daughter, Annie.

PORTE C. WELCH. Porter Clay Welch, whose literary nom de plume is "Proxy," was born near Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Ill., August 6, 1837. His father's name was John Welch, of North Carolina; that of his mother, Rachel Smith, of Tennessee. His grand-parents were all born in America, except grandmother on father's side, who was born in Scotland, hence he is descended from Scotch and Welch ancestors on his father's side, and English on his mother's side. Although the life of our subject is one full of interesting incidents, and deserves to be treated fully, we have but room to give a brief sketch: When about eleven years of age (July 19, 1848) he removed with his father's family to Iowa, and settled near the present town of Otley, in Marion county. A year later he removed to near Pella, and remained on a farm until seventeen years old; after which he went to work in a steam saw-mill, and in 1856, when his father sold out, he remained in charge of an extensive lumbering business, having, as head-sawyer, at the first steam mill in Pella, and in other places in that locality, sawed more than two million feet of the "pick and choice" of the great forests of that vicinity.

All told, he never attended school twelve months as a pupil, but he obtained a fair education by studying at odd hours; he was fugal in his habits, subsisting independently on the earnings of his own hands, working all day and posting books and studying at night. In 1859 he commenced teaching school, and in 1860 learned the photographing business, pursuing these at intervals and studying in the meantime, for a number of years.

At Knoxville, Iowa, July 4, 1861, Mr. Welch was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Harding, eldest daughter of Mason Harding, of Kentucky (a distant relative of James M. Mason of "Mason and Slidell" fame). Mrs. Welch was born near Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, January 8th, 1842, and emigrated to Iowa with her parents in 1855; they settled near Coalridge, in Marion county, where her mother died the following year. Their children are as follows: Porter C., born in Pella, June 12, 1862; died in Pella, August 12, 1863; buried at Knoxville. John Mason, born in Pella, January 12, 1864. Rachel Anna, born in Pella, January 12, 1866. Olla Mary, born in Oskaloosa, January 28, 1868. William Francis, born in Oskaloosa, January 8, 1870. Emma May, born in Oskaloosa, May 28, 1871. Fannie Belle, born in Oskaloosa, May 17, 1874. Peter Cooper, born in Oskaloosa, February 6, 1877.

WELDON, WM., farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Ferry; owns 213 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in New Jersey, in 1812; came to Iowa in 1853, and settled on his present farm in the same year. Married Priscilla McPherson, in 1845; she was born in Cateraugus county, N.Y., in 1826; children: Dellana, Alexander, Washington, and John. Democrat.

WELLS, ALBERT, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Mauch Chunk; owns 120 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in Genesee county, New York, in 1830, came to Iowa in 1867, and located on his present farm; married Hannah Hammond, in 1847, she was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1830; they have nine children, Henrietta, Celia, Ralph, Reuben, Austin, Ida, Frank, Bruce, Charlie. Republican.

WESTON, GEO., farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Union Mills; born in Ohio, in 1854; came to this county in 1865; his father, Thomas Weston, was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1794, and came to this county in 1865; he married Susan Thomas, in 1830; she was born in Virginia; has four children: Mary E., George, Kossuth, and Salina A.; has lost seven children.

WHALING, ISAAC, farmer, Sec. 20; P.O. Flint; born in Wayne county, Pa., in 1831; came to this county, in 1855; owns eighty acres; he has held offices of justice of the peace, school director, and trustee; he married Susan A. Shelby in 1854; she was born in Pa., and died July 11, 1855. He afterward married Ellen hunt, July 1, 1857; she was born in Ohio.

WHARTON, A. J., farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Bussy; owns 345 acres land, valued at $20 per acre; born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1830; came to Iowa in 1860, and settled in this township. Married Leah Littler, in 1858; she was born in Grant county, Indiana, in 1836; have eight children: John, Eliza, Almira, Seth, Cora, Mary A., Robert, and William. Democrat.

WHARTON, ROBERT, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Bussey; owns 280 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, in 1818; came to Iowa in 1854, and settled on his present farm; married Mary J. Ashing, in 1857; she was born in 1836; have four children: Isaac W., Leroy P., Tabitha A., and Alice. Mr. W. has six children by a former wife: John, Tristram, Catharine, Nancy, J. Anna, and Thomas. Mr. W. was a member of the board of supervisors two years. Democrat.

WHEELER, ALFRED, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Cedar; farm 96 acres; was born in North Hamptonshire, England, in 1834; lived there nine years; his parents then emigrated to the United States, and located in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where they lived seven years, and then moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1868, then to this county; he married Josephine M. Palmer, January 1, 1866, a native of Illinois; they have two sons and three daughters, Jennet, Eugene, Guy, Mattie, Grace; he served three years in the late war, in Company A., Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteers Infantry; enlisted August 15, 1862; mustered out in June, 1865.

WHITED, CARSON, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Eddyville; farm of 130 acres; was born in the town of Wythe, Wythe county, Virginia, September 17, 1814; his parents emigrated to Fayette county, Indiana, when he was five years of age, where they lived three years, and then removed to Shelbyville, Indiana; he left there and came to this county, November 10, 1846; he married Miss Abagail Bollibaugh, February 28, 1833, a native of Raligh county, North Carolina; family, four daughters, Maria J., (now widow of John Mercer, who died in Andersonville prison during the late rebellion), Charlotte, (now Mrs. James Oldham), Catharine, (now Mrs. John Rainsbarger,) Mahala, (now Mrs. Quitman Powell). Mr. W. lost one son, who died while in the army.

WHITE, E. H., blacksmith; P. O. Fremont; was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1826, lived there twenty-four years, and then emigrated to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1850, and has been a resident of this township ten years. He married Miss Mary Barton, September 19, 1850, a native of Preble county, Ohio; she died August 21, 1858; he married again to Martha J. Heffner, December 15, 1870, a native of Dark county, Ohio; three daughters by first marriage, Lavica E., Nancy E. and Eliza J.; one daughter by second marriage, Della M; he enlisted in the late war in Company K., Eighteenth Iowa Volunteers Infantry, August 6, 1862; mustered out August 9, 1865.

WHITE, JOHN, deceased, Oskaloosa; born in Peperell, Massachusetts, November 23, 1813; when quite a small boy he removed with his parents to Venice, on the Big Miami river, Ohio; he learned the cooper trade, and at the age of eighteen, removed to Hamilton county, Ohio, and engaged in the coopering business. He married Miss Martha J. Cloud, April 2, 1837, in Dearborn county, Indiana; they came to Iowa and located in Van Buren, county, in 1843. Mr. White came to this county tne same year and located the land where Mrs. White now lives. In the following year, in April, 1844, he brought his family here. He engaged in farming and carried it on extensively for some years; he was afterward engaged in banking business. Mr. White was one of the most sagacious of business men; he was largely interested in railroads, and at the time of his death, which occurred December 24, 1870, he was one of the wealthiest men in the State. He left one daughter, Mrs. Ernest H. Gibbs. Mrs. White still resides on the homestead adjoining the city of Oskaloosa.

WHITE, T. B., farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Ohio, in 1845, came to this State in 1847, and to this county in 1856; owns forty-four acres of land. He has served as school director, and for twelve years as secretary of the school board. He married Miss Dora Hiatt, in 1876; she was born in Ohio; has one child, Wilfred W.

WHITE, THOMAS, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Eddyville; owns 210 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in North Carolina in 1816; came to Iowa in 1852. Married Mary Noe, in 1820; have three children: John N., Thos. J., and Oliver T. Mr. White has been justice of the peace for seven years. Are members of Socety of Friends. Democrat.

WHITMORE, J. S., Sec. 25; of the firm of Whitmore & Anderson, proprietors of Alpha Mills; owns 160 acres of land valued at $16,000; born in Shelby county, Ky., in 1831; came to Iowa in 1857, and located in Washington county, and removed to this county in 1870; married Ann E. Braden, in 1858; she was born in Decatur county, Indiana, in 1840; they have three children, Charles B., John C., and George A.

WILDMAN, OLIVER, merchant, of the firm of Wildman & Stanton, dealers in general merchandise, New Sharon; born in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, in 1833, and came to this State in 1871; owns eighty acres of land; he has held office of school director and assessor; he married Miss Hannah Bailey in 1859; she was born in Ohio in 1832; has four children, Sulan B., Harry G., Charlie W. and Adah; lost two children, Effie and Alonzo.

WILEY, JNO. H., physician, Oskaloosa; born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and was brought up and lived there until 1846, and then removed to Indiana. He studied medicine and attended lectures in the city of New York, and also attended a second course of lectures in Cincinnati. He practiced his profession in Indiana, until 1865, and then came to Iowa, and located in Mount Pleasant, practicing his profession there, and in Ottumwa, until coming here, in 1872. He married Angeline Antrobus, from Decatur county, Indiana, December 6, 1846; they have four children, Isabella J., Elizabeth, Alice A., Carrie Maud, and they have lost one son, Harry.

WILLARD, CHAS. T., firm of C. T. Willard & Co., dealers in dry goods; born in Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois, February 18, 1848; he was brought up and received his education there. He came to Oskaloosa in 1869 and engaged in the dry goods business He married Florence A. Reece, from Abington, Knox Co, Illinois, October 26, 1870; they have two children, Warren Reece and Helen C.

WILLIAMS, J. A., farmer, P. O. Rose Hill; owns 39 acres of land, valued at $160 per acre; born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1817; came to Iowa in 1868, and settled on present farm; married Mary J. Dodd, in 1855; she was born in Delaware, in 1835; have seven children, Mary, James, John, Martha, Elzina, George W. and Sarah. Democrat.

WILLIAMS, J. C., farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Oskaloosa; born in Grayson county, Virginia, in 1812; came to this county in 1850; owns 80 acres of land. He has held office of township trustee and school director. He married Lydia A. Pierson, in 1840; she was born in Logan county, Ohio; has seven children, Enoch P., Cyrus T., William P., Calvin W., Marion, John H. and Lydia B.

WILLIAMS, M. T., this gentleman's name has occured quite frequently in the body of this work. It should be so. No name is more intimately connected with the early history of Mahaska, than that of M. T. Williams. Mr. Williams is an Ohioan. He was born in Butler county, in the old Buckeye State, may 29, 1820. During his early boyhood his father removed to Indiana, and settled near Terre Haute. Here young Williams enjoyed the benefits of a common school education until he was sixteen years of age, when he attended Wabash college, at Crawfordsville, during two years. After leaving school he engaged in engineering in Hoosierdom, in employ of the State of Indiana, for a few months, when the internal improvement work on which he was engaged was suspended. While yet eighteen years of age, young Williams returned to Ohio and studied law in Cincinnati with Judge O. M. Spencer, and afterward graduated at the Ohio law school; he was admitted to the bar April, 1842. Believing that the best place for a young man was on the frontier, on the second day of the following month Mr. Williams started for Iowa, coming across Illinois in a wagon. Arriving at Mt. Pteasant, he formed a partnership with G. W. Teas, a somewhat noted character in that day, a partnership which lasted about one year. He first came to Mahaska county in December, 1843, and shortly afterward went to Iowa City, where he spent the winter, and in the following spring, as has been elsewhere related, he became organizing clerk of the county, with Wm. Edmundson as first sheriff. He continued to fill the office of clerk of court until 1854, when at the August election of that year, he refused to become a further candidate. During the latter part of this service he was also clerk under John A. L. Crookham, county judge, and in accordance with the law, in the absence of the latter, was acting county judge. At this time, and in this way, he acquired the title of Judge Williams, by which he is currently known. In the fall of 1854, Mr. Williams was elected to the state legislature, where he represented his county during the succeeding term. September 1st, of this same year he engaged in the practice of law in Oskaloosa, with Wm. T. Smith as partner. March 1, 1855, these gentlemen opened the first banking house in Mahaska county, and continued to do a general banking and land business, for two years and a half, when Mr. Williams withdrew from the firm. In 1858 a partnership was formed with Judge Seevers, which partnership continued for ten years. During five of these years, from 1863 to 1868, these gentlemen, in connection with H. P. Ninde, had a land agency which had the personal attention of Mr. Williams. The latter continued with Mr. Ninde in the land agency until 1873, practicing law in the meantime; in the last named year Mr. Williams associated in law business with Liston McMillen, a young man from Ohio, with whom he is still in partnership; Judge Williams was elected to a second term of the Legislature in 1861; for the past 15 years he has been U.S. Commissioner; as elsewhere mentioned, he served with great credit six years as trustee of the Iowa Asylum for the Insane, at Mount Pleasant from 1868 to 1874; he was also locating commissioner in 1846, of the county seat of Polk county; in 1850 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is now a prominent Sir Knight in that order in Oskaloosa; during quite a number of years he was, and now is, a member of the vestry of St. James Episcopal church. Judge Williams has lived a life which has ever been one of quiet usefulness; he holds an honored place in the community; his record shows no entries of wrong doing; he ranks high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and is especially loved by the younger people; "Caje" Williams is a general favorite; he has a pleasant home in the town of his choice; during the summer of 1845 he built with his own hands, a house just north of the public square, and in September of that year brought to it as his bride, Miss Virginia Rebecca Seevers; this lady was born near Winchester, Virginia, and is a daughter of James Seevers (who came to Mahaska in 1844, and is now 86 years of age); the first home of the young couple has long since been abandoned for a more comfortable and elegant residence, where Mr. and Mrs. Williams with their two daughters, Alice Eugenia, and Beulah J., extend a hospitality to their friends such as few are able to bestow, and there enjoy the reward, to which years of frontier life and hardships have justly entitled them. [A further sketch of Mr. Williams occurs under the chapter on "First Court." [pp 280] ]

WILSON, MRS. E. A., Sec. 32; P. O. Beacon; born in Mineral county, West Va., and lived there until she was married to Thomas Wilson, February 22, 1839. He was born in Maryland, December 25, 1803. After they were married they started for Iowa and located in Washington county, April 1, 1839; Mrs. Wilson rode on horseback from Burlington; they lived there until the treaty was made with the Indians, and they then left and came to this county; arrived here May 20, 1843; they were the earliest settlers in this section; he made a claim and put up his cabin; he was gone to mill at one time over three weeks, and Mrs. Wilson had no bread for herself and children while he was gone. The first visit Mrs. Wilson made in Iowa was on Sunday; they had corn bread and corn coffee made of meal and slippery-elm. Mr. Wilson ploughed the first furrow on Six-mile prairie. They had nothing when they came to Iowa, but by hard work and good management at the time of his death he owned from 800 to 1000 acres, good land; they have lost five sons; Lizzie, Myra, Milo, Jennie, Margaret, Charlie and Thomas, living.

WILSON, JOHN C., farmer, P. O. Lacey; owns 136 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; born in Newark, Ohio, in 1816; came to Iowa in 1863, and settled in Oskaloosa township; removed to present farm in 1877; married Elizabeth E. Needham, in 1861; she was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, in 1835; have two children, Charles L. and Emma B; Mr. W. has five children by a former marriage, Theodore B., Benjamin E., John W., Mary E., Nancy L.; are members of the M. E. church. Mr. Wilson is one of the township trustees. Republican.

WILSON, MILTON, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Lacey; owns 240 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1811; came to Iowa in 1875, and settled on present farm; married Sarah Brown in 1850; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1820; their children are Juliette, Carrie B., Elizabeth, Amanda, Eliza, Mary, Almira and Zoah. Mr. W. has two children by a former marriage, Newton and Emma; are members of M. E. church. Republican.

WILSON, MITCHEL, dealer in dry goods, clothing, hats and caps, Oskaloosa; born in Clinton county, Ohio, June 30, 1833; he was brought up there until ninteen years of age; then came to Iowa, by wagon, being about thirty days on the way, and arrived here about Nov. 1, 1852, a few days before the election of President Pierce. He was engaged in the mercantile business for several years. He entered the Oskaloosa Branch of the State Bank of Iowa, and became cashier of that institution, and was also cashier of the National State Bank, which succeeded it, for some years; held office of city treasurer two years, and city councilman. He married Miss Ella Crawford, from Indiana, in the spring of 1863; they have three children, Cora A., Lena A. and Walter Guy.

WILSON, REZIN, dealer in leather and saddlery hardware, and trunks, Oskaloosa; born in Ohio, October 1st, 1830; he was brought up and learned his trade, and engaged in business in Marion, Ohio. He came to Iowa and arrived in Oskaloosa, August 12, 1854, and worked at his trade for eighteen months, then engaged in business with J. B. Dixon, and they continued together until the death of Mr. Dixon, in 1876. Mr. Wilson and D. W. Loring are the oldest merchants that have been in business without change, and Mr. Wilson has been in the leather and saddlery hardware business longer than any one in the State. He married Miss Amelia S. Baer, from Crawfordsville, Indiana, October 13, 1858; she is one of the earliest settlers, and has been here thirty-five years; there were only three cabins here when she came; they have two children, George W. and Stella Maud; and they lost one son, Harry.

WINDER, JAMES, retired farmer, New Sharon; born in Ross county, Ohio, March 19, 1812; came to this county October 20, 1852; in early life he worked at carriage building, and afterward at the cabinet business, and when he came to this county engaged in farming; he is one of the earliest settlers, and built the second building in New Sharon, and was the first post-master, an office he held six years; he has laid out and platted two additions to New Sharon, and served several years as town trustee; he married Eliza Albright in 1835; she was born in Monroe county, New York; has six children, William, Francis, Nancy, Charlotte, Joseph and Abner.

WINDER, Wm. W., barber, New Sharon; born in Ross Co., Ohio, in 1836; came to this county in 1852; he married Deborah Sharp in 1870; she was born in Ohio; has two children, Albert C. and Baby.

WINTERMUTE, E. W., farmer, Sec. 4; P.O. New Sharon; born in 1841; came to this county in 1858; owns 160 acres of land. He married Miss Dollie A. Fenkerson in Nov. 1861; she was born in Maine; has five children, Benjamin, Mary E., Lucius, Willie and Cora; lost two Florence and Carl.

WOODS, E. M., farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Leighton; was born in Knox county, Tenn., September 19, 1840; his parents removed to Iowa in 1845, and to Marion county in 1846, and to this county and township in the fall of 1847; he owns a farm of 160 acres and 20 acres of timber; he married Miss Elvira A. Strain, March 22, 1868, a native of Ohio; they have three sons, Elvin T., Orvil B., and Harley E.; he served two years and ten months in the late war, in Co. G, 33d Iowa Volunteers Infantry; was wounded at Poison Springs, April 15, 1864, in the left leg below the knee; ten days thereafter was taken prisoner and confined five months in the prison at Camden, and was then removed to Magnolia, and thence to Shreavesport; was paroled out February 26, 1865; was released at the mouth of Red River. Republican.

WOODS, J. K., farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Lacey; owns 700 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1816; came to Iowa in 1850; married Sarah Hartman in 1848; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., in 1826; they have ten children, Martha Ann, David H., Mary F., Alfaretta, Matilda J., Alpheus B., Cora, Fanny, James and Harry. Mr. W. has been a member of the board of supervisors four years. Republican.

WOODS, J. M., farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Leighton; was born in Knox county, Tenn., March 6, 1835; he came to Iowa in 1845, to Marion county in 1846, and to this county and township in the fall of 1847; he married Miss Susan Reese, August 7, 1856; she was born in Ohio, September 29, 1838; she died May 26, 1860; left one daughter, Etta M.; married again to Eliza J. Liter, July 1, 1862; she was born in Illinois, August 30, 1839; she died February 25, 1875, and left one son and four daughters, Ida M., Anna J., Maggie L., Jessie L., and Hubert W.

WOODWORTH, E. N., physician, Peoria; born in Ohio, in 1831; came to this county in 1854; has been practicing his profession twenty years; he owns 78 acres of land; he married Miss Emmeline Hinkle in 1858; she was born in Ohio; has two children, Alice E. and Cora E.

WOODY, JOHN W., firm Woody & Hellings, abstracts and loans; born in North Carolina, March 17, 1841, and was brought up and received his education there, and in Indiana and Ohio; he removed to Indiana in 1860, and attended school and engaged in teaching until 1868, when he came to Iowa and was president and principal of Whittier College, at Salem; he resigned in 1872, and read law; he was principal of the high school for one year, and then was called to the presidency of Penn College, and remained here for five years; during the present year he associated with Mr. W. P. Hellings, and engaged in the abstract and loan business; he is also president of the Central Iowa Loan and Trust Company; he married Miss Mary Chawner, of Indiana, April 1, 1868; they have one son, Horace H.

WORTMAN, GEO., farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Muchakinock; farm contains 308 acres; was born in the Province of New Brunswick, August 14, 1814, he lived there until he was past twelve, his parents then moved to Harrison county, Ohio; he lived there about ten years; he came to this county in the spring of 1843, and located on the place where he now lives; he married Miss M. Christena Scott, a native of Ohio, February 28, 1842; she died July 24, 1849; married again to Rebecca McCaslin, a native of Virginia, April 2, 1850; two daughters by first marriage, Hannah, and Louisa C.; three sons and five daughters by second marriage, John, Sarah, Martha J., Matilda A., Emma, Mary F., David and Geo. W.

WRAY, WILLIAM H., firm of Mattison & Wray, grocery and provision dealers; born in Shelby county, Indiana, April 29, 1837; when seventeen years of age he came with his parents by wagon to Iowa; they were twenty-eight days on the way, and arrived in this county, five miles east of Oskaloosa, April 19, 1854; he was on the farm for about ten years, then came to this city and engaged in the lumber business in 1866, and continued for twelve years, until 1877, when he sold out and engaged in his present business; he has held the office of city alderman; married Miss Francis Montgomery, from Shelby county, Indiana, October 5, 1858; they have three children, Walter Joseph and Nellie, and have most two children, Eddie and Cooper.

WRIGHT, MRS. EMILY J., formerly Miss Emily J. Ellis; was born in Warren county, Ohio, and removed, with her parents, in infancy to Fountain county, Indiana; they came to Mahaska county in 1855, and located in Oskaloosa; she married Thomas T. Wright, September 10, 1861; he was born in Highland county, Ohio, March 6, 1833; he was brought up and received his education there, and came to Iowa and located in Oskaloosa in 1854; he was engaged in the grocery and drug business for some years, and afterward engaged with Terry & Spencer in the wholesale grocery trade; they bought Mr. Terry's interest and he retired; associated with Mr. Spencer they continued the business until the death of Mr. Wright, February 19, 1875; Mrs. Wright still retains her interest in the business of the present firm of Wright & Spencer; she has one son, Samuel B., born March 29, 1862, and has lost one son, Benjamin F., born December 13, 1863, and died August 9, 1864.

WRIGHT, H. T., dealer in hardware, stoves and house furnishing goods, New Sharon; born in Adams county, Penn., in 1818; he lived in Ohio seven years, and removed to Delaware county, Iowa, in 1857, coming to this county in 1869; he has served as a member of the city council; he married Miss L. A. Hoopes in 1861; she was born in Adams Co., Penn.; has one son, Charles; lost one daughter, Anna E.

WYLIE, JAMES T., farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Eddyville; was born in the town of Coventry, Chenango county, New York, November 23, 1815, he lived there until 1837, and then emigrated to Peoria, Illinois, where he lived six years, and then came to Iowa in the spring of 1843, and located in Eddyville, and worked at his trade, (blacksmithing). Mr. W. did all the stage repairing at Eddyville in those days; in 1845 he and his partner, Mr. J. W. Caldwell, entered 240 acres in this township, afterward, buying his partner's interest; his farm contains 407 acres; he married Miss Mary J. Delashmutt, November 23, 1851. She was born in Tyler county, Virginia, May 12, 1831. They have one son and two daughters, Clara M., (now Mrs. Andrew Manifold,) born September 25, 1853, James B., born October 1, 1855, Eppie S., August 8, 1867.

WYMORE, A. J., farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Agricola; born in Indiana in 1832; came to this county in 1850; owns 190 acres of land; has held office of school director; he married Nancy Sharp in 1854; she was born in Indiana; has seven children, George H., Daniel, Sarah J., William, Charlie, Cora, and Louisa.