Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Ira Williams,  a native of New York, came to Falls township in 1855, from Illinois.  He  settled on section 17, where he made a hay house and strewed hay upon  the ground for a floor.  In this abode he and his family lived for two  years, when they built a log cabin, which at first was roofed with bark,  but later by shakes.  In 1859 he sold out and moved over into Lincoln.   He served as a soldier in the last war, and died in Lincoln township in  1877.  His widow, now the wife of O. E. Thompson, still resides in that  township ...  

A Winter Night's Experience  

In the winter of 1856-7 two sons of Ira Williams, Reuben and David, aged  twenty and fourteen years, respectively, went over to Horace Green's, a  neighbors, to water his cattle.  They left home about 10 A. M., and  owing to the extreme cold weather, they had to go up the stream in  search of another place at which to water the stock.  They finally  succeeded in watering them, but while doing so a violent storm arose  with such fury that they could not get the cattle to return, and in  their attempt they themselves were lost, and compelled to remain out all  night.  After wandering some time they found a small grove, in which  they took shelter, and kept on the move all night to keep from freezing  to death.  They finally thought the storm had abated sufficiently to  admit of their venturing home, but they again soon lost their way, and  were also unable to return to the clump of trees, around which they had  tramped so many long hours as their only refuge.  David became exhausted  and Reuben gave him his left hand, keeping his right one in his pocket,  as he knew the one exposed would be frozen soon, and he took the  precaution to save the right hand.  In this manner they moved along not  knowing whither they journeyed, keeping pace across the stormy prairies,  until the bitter night had passed away, and the sun had made its  cheerful appearance in the eastern horizon, when they found, to their  utter astonishment, that they were near Mason City.  They were overheard  by two men, who were cutting wood and who came to their relief, taking  them on into Mason City.  Reuben could still walk, but David was  completely exhausted.  David, very naturally, was the first to receive  medical attention, and thus was saved from much suffering endured by  Reuben, who lost his right foot, and half of the other, also a finger on  his left hand.  David lost a part of his right foot and two toes from  the other foot.  The latter resided in Worth county in 1883, and Reuben  was a resident of Minnesota.

Alonzo Willson, one of the settlers of 1855, is a real estate dealer, money loaner and broker at Mason City. He came to the county prior to its organization, locating in Owen township. He came to the city in 1878. He bought land, improved it and followed farming , buying, selling and raising cattle for many years. With the benefits derived from the abundant pasturage of the prairies, and the success which always attends persistent effort, he has accumulated the capital which he has used in his present vocation since 1878. Mr. Willson was born at Adams Center, Jefferson Co., N.Y., July 21, 1822. When he was an infant his parents moved to Ontario Co., N. Y.., where he remained until he was fourteen years of age. His father, Thomas B. Willson, a native of Windham Co., Vt., born May 10, 1802, removed to Jefferson Co., N. Y., at an early age, where he married Phebe Wilson, a native of Washington Co., N. Y. Thomas B. Willson was of Scotch, and his wife of English descent. They had three children, two of whom are now living. The family located at Dead Man's Grove, Coles Co., Ill., in 1835, and afterwards resided in different counties in that State. In 1855 they came to Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, where Mr. Willson engaged in teaching school and vocal music during the winters, and mason work in summers. Alonzo was reared on a farm, and received a fair common school education. On the 2d of February, 1845, he married Catharine Reynolds, of Edgar Co., Ill. Her parents were B. B. and Monica (Brown) Reynolds, natives of Maryland. His wife, Monica Brown, while residing in Maryland, near Beardstown, frequently saw George Washington, and well remembered some of his conversation; also knew Mr. Bliss, who then owned a portion of the land where Washington City now stands. Mr. Reynolds went to Jefferson Co., Wis., where he died in 1871, and in 1882 his wife died at the age of ninety-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Willson have eight children - Alice J., Bruce A., Emma C., Buford B., Leonora A., John D. R., Mary M. and Gertrude. In 1856 Mr. Willson was elected the first justice of the peace in Owen township, and has also held several local offices of the county. In 1853, and previous to his coming to Cerro Gordo county, he took a company of men across the plains to California, together with a drove of cattle, and there engaged in the business of supplying the miners with provisions, carrying the same with pack mules over the mountains. He also ranched in Yolo county, on Cache creek, at which place he kept his stock. Mr. Willson built the first two story log house in Cerro Gordo county, and also yet owns the land that he entered on the 25th of June, 1855. He is one of four residents of the county who can show as abstract of title which runs no further.

JAMES WRIGHT, a native of Brown Co., N. Y., came to the township in 1854, purchasing a claim on section 17, but for some reason did not prove up, but sold his claim in the fall to Lewis Mosher, and took another claim, on section 5, where he built him a cabin, broke and fenced a few acres. In the fall of 1855 he again sold to George Frederick, and in the spring of 1856 removed to Minnesota , and from there to Kansas , where he died March 18, 1859 . His widow is now the wife of John D. Massey, who lives in Rock Falls.