Star - Clipper Supplement Traer, Iowa, April 15, 1886 History of North Tama By Daniel Connell JOHN WILSON, who properly can be called the father of that advanced system of farming in the Wolf creek valley that has given this settlement its impetus and kept it ahead of its surroundings, is a Scotchman, born on a farm called Killpatrick, in the parish of Girvan, county of Ayer, seventy-five years since. His father had a large family and lived long in the land, and all of his children had large families, and all reached years past middle age. Their children of the third generation, as has been their days, have numerous children of the fourth generation, all throughout the genealogical tree respectable and respected. The subject of this sketch married Jean McCosh, a sister of Andrew McCosh, and they lived in the parish of their nativity until 1842, when they removed to Wigtonshire, and in 1851 emigrated to the United States, locating at Norwich, Connecticut, where and when the writer first met him. At this time they had nine children. Mr. Wilson rented a dairy farm and sold his products in the city of Norwich and its villages. Not being satisfied with the rocks and sand of that State, and his brother West having arranged to come here as already told, he entered land in Perry on sections 7 and 18, and on it still lives. The writer remembers standing in the east door of his father's cabin one November day near dark in 1855. It was snowing. Through the flakes and gathering gloom he could discern a line of objects crossing the bridge over the Wolf, then below the mill. After crossing the line they moved down the creek making north to the west end of the forks timber. The arrival of newcomers was watched with interest, and their name and destination learned. This procession was John Wilson's family. Heading the family and driving two yoke of cattle was Jim, the eldest son. In like occupation followed Peter; then came the father, a younger son, each driving a team of horses, and mixed in the various loads were the mother and the other six children and the household effects. They drove to the cabin of G. McMillan, who, with a large family, were living in a cabin twelve feet square, and of course were crowded. How eleven more were stowed in there must be learned from the genial Mack. In a few years they had five more children - fourteen in total. The first years Mr. Wilson, while opening the farm, raised small grain and made butter and cheese. Early seeing that cattle, horses and swine must be the sure source of profit to the farmer, he arranged for their production. It took years and labor and knowledge. All these were his and the results and the results to him were as he anticipated. His sons and daughters grew up, married and settled around him at first. Gradually some left for other fields and even death invaded the circle. Mrs. Wilson died in 1881, having lived together for forty-eight years. The next year Mr. Wilson married Mrs. Martha Stoakes Cope, daughter of John Stoakes. Mr. Wilson was educated in the strict faith and practice of the church of Scotland, and was the original mover in the foundation of Tranquility church in his neighborhood and to which he is still attached. He was also deeply interested in education and gave his children all the advantages in his power, sending them to Grinnell, and for many years taking them there and going for them at the end of terms, long before there was a railroad for the purpose. Men have an individuality and a method of procedure in business, and because others do not succeed by the methods of Mr. Wilson are inclined to think there is an error in statement. Mr. Wilson's methods of stock raising have been successful in a profitable degree. He is enamored with the settlement and writes me: " I had hard, hard times here until we got the greenback currency. I have the best land I have ever seen. I think the settlers that left here did not know what they were about. I have found cattle to be the best and surest paying thing. Give a steer two acres of grass, He will eat it and grow fat." All Mr. Wilson's success has been from his farm. He has not speculated outside in anything. He has been liberal in his giving - in alms, to church, to school, and in the scores of ways the free giver finds he has not withheld. In agriculture his interest centers. In everything relating to the interest of the farmer he is affected, and at an early day was urging his neighbors to meet and talk of their pursuits, and twenty years ago was instrumental in the organization of the first agricultural fair at Buckingham, which, under the name of Traer District Fair is second to none in Iowa, save the State. This organization at Buckingham was the first of the kind in Tama county, and has proved the most uniformly successful. WEST WILSON, familiarly know as the "Squire" from having been a justice of the peace in Crystal for many years, was born in Colmonel, Ayrshire, Scotland, September 19, 1820, and was raised on a farm. He resided there until 1846. Having married, came to the United States, locating in Lisbon, Connecticut, adjoining Norwich. There he rented a farm on which was a saw mill, which he successfully operated. On the farm he extensively raised vegetables for the Norwich market, and extended the business as far as to send large quantities to Worcester, Boston and Providence. He had many cows and carried on the dairy business. He desired to go where land was cheap and obtain some. He in the way that has been related herein came to Big creek prospecting in 1854, accompanied by John Wilson and George Sloss. He brought his family here 1856, having procured three quarter sections of land in Crystal. Mr. Wilson by his ambition, public spirit and knowledge, has done very much for the development of Wolf creek valley. He early invested in good stock, having a partiality for Short-horns, a business he carried on for many years, but ultimately lost money in it. In 1873 he built a ware house for grain in Traer, and later purchased an elevator, which business he has continued to date. Mr. Wilson is a social man of good parts; his company much sought; can tell a good story and enjoys one; sing a pleasing song and listen to one; can see the ridiculous side of human nature; he has a large, soft heart; his right hand in ignorance of the actions of the left. In the days of his prosperity the writer was the dispenser of alimony for Mr. Wilson of hundreds of dollars to the worthy poor. He was an early mover for the organization of agricultural exhibits, taking active part in putting in operation those at Buckingham, Tama City and Toledo, and was a large exhibitor in all. Of a prolific family his is large. By the first wife he has three sons well to do, neither of whom are at home. Of daughters living there are the wives of Edward Dodd, James Brown, Robert Whannel, John Galloway and William Cresswell, all successful men. There are four children by the second wife, one daughter of which is a student in Glasgow, Scotland.