Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa
New York, Chicago: Lewis publishing Co., S. Thompson Lewis, editor. 1903
Transcribed by Renee Rimmert. A complete copy of this book is available on-line at archive.org.
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HUGH E. WILKINSON - Not far from Cincinnati, Iowa, on mail route No. 3, is a cozy and attractive farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of highly improved and fertile land. Everything on and about this farm indicates thrift and good management. All the modern improvements in the way of machinery and appropriate agricultural architecture assure the visitor that a progressive and up-to-date farmer has the management of things on that place. Closer inspection will show that the dwelling house is equipped with a telephone, which places the manager in quick touch with the county seat and surrounding towns, while Uncle Sam's mail carrier stops at the door every day to deliver newspapers and letters. Such is one of the prettiest places to be seen in a state famous for its fine farms and ideal homes. Inquiry elicits the information that the happy owner of this "little farm well tilled" is Hugh E. Wilkinson, and it is the object of this biography to tell the reader something about him. He is descended from a combination of English and Irish joined in matrimonial alliance. Dr. Thomas Wilkinson, who was born and bred in England, in early life met and married in Ohio an Irish lady by the name of Ann Murphy, and this union of natives of two countries so hostile produced no evil results, as "they lived happily ever after." They made their home in Dayton, Ohio, where Dr. Wilkinson practiced medicine a few years, but in 1856 he removed to Appanoose county, Iowa, secured a farm in Franklin township and there spent all the remainder of his days. The Doctor was a Presbyterian in religion, while his wife adhered to the doctrines promulgated by the Baptist church. He lived to the rather advanced age of ninety-one years and died in 1901, just a year after his wife, who passed away in 1900 when eighty-five years old. Their only children were William M. and Hugh E., the former of whom is now living in the old home place in Franklin township.
Hugh E. Wilkinson, the second son, was born at Dayton, Ohio. June 5, 1853, and was just three years old when his parents transferred the scene of their operations to Iowa. He grew up in Appanoose county and received good educational advantages at the common schools in Franklin township, the high school at Centerville and the academy at College Springs, Iowa. As soon as he laid aside his books he engaged in farming, and this has ever since been the regular occupation of his life. His Iowa residence, however, was interrupted by a western sojourn of ten or twelve years beyond the Missouri river.
While at Newton, Kansas - where he lived several years, he met and married Phoebe J., daughter of John and Sarah Phillips, residents of that place. He went from Kansas to Colorado, where he remained until 1897, and then returned to his old home in Iowa, from which he has never since departed. How comfortable he is now fixed, and how well he has been doing, is sufficiently emphasized in the opening paragraph of this biographical sketch. Of Mr. Wilkinson's four children, two, Anna and Thomas P., are living, and the other two, Harry E. and Fred W., have joined the great majority. In politics he is a Republican, in religion a Methodist, and fraternally a member of the Masons, and he and his wife and their eldest daughter are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
JAMES WILSON - The land of the bonnie bluebell and of the immortal Burns has sent forth many a worthy son to the free land across the waters who has been an important factor in the industrial, social and political life of this country, and to have the blood of the sturdy Scotch in one's veins is in itself an excellent heritage. And it is now our pleasure to record the career of one who is in every way an ornament to his adopted land and an American citizen in the true sense of the word. The Wilson family traces its lineage back to an old Scotch house. James and Janet (Young) Wilson were the parents of our immediate subject and were both born in Scotland. James Wilson, Sr., was a coal miner and at the age of thirty-four lost his life by falling down a shaft. To them were born eight children, of whom six are still living: one died in infancy and a son, Adam, was killed on the western plains in 1863 by the Indians.
James Wilson was the oldest son and was born in Inveresk parish, Mid-Lothian county, Scotland, on the 22nd day of September, 1834. All the school training that was afforded him was such as he could obtain in the first ten years of his life; at the end of that period he began his career as a coal miner. In 1854, when twenty years of age, he came to America; he landed in New York city; from there went to Philadelphia, then on to Baltimore, finally obtaining employment in a coal mine in Frostburg, Allegany county, Maryland; after spending a short time here he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and worked in a mine, then was employed in Warren county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1861 located in Monmouth, Illinois, where he engaged in mining for twenty- one years. He made his arrival in Centerville, Iowa, in 1882, and he here bought a local coal mine, which he developed and operated for some time, and for a year ran a butcher shop. After this venture he bought another mine in Centerville and operated it in connection with the Star Coal Company; later, selling his interest, he became a stockholder in the Anchor Coal Company, in which he only recently disposed of his interest. From 1889 he has served as superintendent of the mines, his wide experience in mining making him invaluable in operating and developing the affairs of the company.
In 1862 Mr. Wilson celebrated his marriage in Monmouth, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth Welsh, who is also a native of Scotland. Six children were born to them. His son, James M., whose sketch also appears in this work, is a leading lawyer of Centerville; a daughter, Janet, has been for several years a successful teacher in the schools of Centerville; another daughter, Isabell, was a private stenographer for Governors F. M. Drake and Leslie M. Shaw during their administrations, and now occupies an excellent position in the treasury department under the present secretary of the treasury. About 1856 the widowed mother of our subject came with her children to America and here spent the remaining days of her life, passing away at the age of eighty-three. Mr. Wilson stands high in the Masonic order, having taken the thirty-second degree. He is in every sense of the word a self-made man, and this has come to be the very highest distinction that can be conferred upon a democratic, liberty-loving American.
JAMES M. WILSON - Marked success has been the attendant of James M. Wilson throughout his brief but brilliant career, and when we consider the fact that he is not yet at the meridian of life it is not difficult to predict still greater achievements for him in the future. As the history of his father's family has been reviewed above, it will not be here necessary to recapitulate.
James M. Wilson was ushered into the world on September 8, 1866, near the city of Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois, the son of Scotch parents, James and Elizabeth (Welsh) Wilson; he is one of four living children. His first training was gained in the common schools, and when his father came to Centerville in 1882, he was employed as weigh-master in the coal mine with which his father was connected, but he later attended the Centerville high school and graduated in 1885; he then entered and spent two years in Monmouth College. Upon his return home he was engaged in several occupations before his mind was fully centered; for a time he railroaded, for one year was clerk in United States railway mail service, then took up teaching for awhile, being employed near home one winter and for a year taught in Versailles, Illinois; in all these pursuits he displayed much versatility, thoroughness and ability. He then began the study of law under Hon. T. M. Fee; in 1896 he graduated in the law department of the Iowa State University as president of a class of one hundred and three members. He had been admitted to the bar in 1895 and has since carried on a good practice in Centerville. Mr. Wilson has taken an active part in politics and for fifteen years has been one of the popular speakers at the various political meetings. In 1896, as the candidate of the Republican party, he was elected county attorney and received a re-election in the fall of 1898; previously he had served two years as city attorney of Centerville. In 1901-1902 he was reading clerk of the state Convention held in Iowa. His official record was an excellent one.
Mr. Wilson is prominent in the fraternal orders, being a Knight Templar, Royal Arch Mason, having served as high priest of Euclid Chapter No. 43, and a Mystic Shriner; also a Knight of Pythias, and he is a member of the judiciary committee of the state Knights of Pythias grand lodge. On December 24, 1891. he married Flora M. White, a daughter of J. A. White, a prominent citizen of Centerville. They have two children, Eva, born October 13, 1892, and Jean, born July 12. 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist church and stand high in the regard of their many friends and acquaintances.
JAMES WOLFINGER - The record of Mr. Wolfinger is that of a man who has worked his way upward to a position among the substantial men of the community in which he lives. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have won him the support and confidence of many. Back to the old Keystone state must we turn for the ancestry of our subject, and in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, he first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 5th of September, 1833. He is a son of John and Catherine (Miller) Wolfinger, both born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Their marriage was celebrated in the last named state, where Mr. Wolfinger was actively engaged in farming until 1834, in which year the family removed to Mercer county, Illinois. That locality continued to be their home for the following four years, on the expiration of which period they took up their abode in Bates county, Missouri, and there the father's death occurred in March, 1861, when he had reached the age of sixty-three years. The mother afterward removed to Appanoose county, Iowa, and her death occurred on the 17th of February, 1879, at the age of eighty- one years. Five children were born to this worthy couple, but only two of the number are now living, James, and Huldah, wife of Thomas Phillips, a resident of Nebraska. Those deceased were Elias, who died October 11, 1864, in the Union army; Nelson, died May 5, 1862; Shadrach, died September 21, 1864, at Fort Smith, Arkansas, while in the service.
James Wolfinger, whose name introduces this review, accompanied his mother on her removal to Appanoose county, and has ever since continued his residence in this locality. On their arrival here they first located in the vicinity of Numa, where the son James turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. On the 12th of August, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company B, Sixth Kansas Cavalry, and served his country as a valiant soldier until November 18, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. Returning thence to his home in Appanoose county, he was here married in 1868, when Miss Annie Gault became his wife, and their union has resulted in the birth of four children, three of whom still survive, namely: Deborah, who was born in 1871, and is at home with her parents; Catherine, who was born on the 14th of September, 1873, and is the wife of Edward G. Campbell, of Appanoose county; and James F., who was born March 23, 1876, and is also at home. Since 1875 the family have resided in their beautiful and attractive home one-half mile north of Cincinnati, where Mr. Wolfinger owns one hundred and ninety-five acres of rich and fertile land. In his social relations he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he holds pleasant relations with his old comrades of the blue.
HENRY H. WRIGHT - General Henry Harrison Wright is an honored veteran of the Civil war and a man who has for a number of years held a leading place among the prominent business men of Appanoose county, Iowa, where he is engaged in the general insurance business. He was born in Williamsport, Warren county, Indiana, on the 26th of February, 1840, being a son of John B. and Eliza (Purjue) Wright. The father, who was a native of Ohio, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, while the mother, who was born in Indiana, was of Irish descent.
Henry H. Wright spent the first twenty years of his life in the place of his birth, receiving his early education in its common schools, which was later supplemented by a course in the Boyer Academy of Williamsport. When eighteen years of age he began learning the printer's trade, which he followed at Williamsport, Indiana, and Danville, Illinois, until 1860, coming thence to Centerville, Iowa, his intention being to continue the journey to the mines at Pike's Peak. However, in May, 1861, at the first call for troops, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company D, Sixtieth Iowa Infantry, entering the ranks as a private, and was not mustered into service until the 17th of July following. His regiment served in Missouri until March, 1862, when it was ordered to Shiloh, taking part in the engagement at that place; also participated in the siege of Corinth, in the campaign in northern Mississippi under General Grant, in General Sherman's division and corps, the Vicksburg campaign, the second capture of Jackson, Mississippi, Missionary Ridge, and in the relief of General Burnsides at Knoxville, Tennessee. It also participated in the Atlanta campaign, including the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesborough and Lovejoy's Station. The regiment was with General Sherman on his march to the sea, the campaign through the Carolinas, in the battle of Bentonville, at the capture of Raleigh, North Carolina, and in the march through Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, where it participated in the grand review in May, 1865. Mr. Wright took part in all the engagements with his regiment, and January 1, 1865, was commissioned second lieutenant of his company by Governor Stone.
He was mustered out with his regiment at Louisville, Kentucky, July 22, 1865, and after his discharge from the army returned to Centerville. In the following October he was elected sheriff of Appanoose county, which office he held by re-election until January, 1874, serving in all eight years, and for the following two years he was the deputy sheriff under John M. Elgin. In January, 1876, General Wright embarked in the insurance, real estate and abstract business at Centerville, to which he has devoted more than twenty-five years.
The marriage of our subject was celebrated on the 15th of November, 1866, at Centerville, when Miss Catherine A. Gray became his wife. They have five living children: John Albert, Henry Clay, Fanny, Mary D., and Rolle. One son, Charles Cyrus, died in October, 1872, at the age of five years, and Jesse Berch died at the age of fourteen months. On the 7th of December, 1878, Mr. Wright entered the Iowa National Guard as first sergeant of Company E, Fifth Regiment, and soon afterward, on March 14, 1880, was promoted to second lieutenant of Company E, Second Regiment, while on April 15, 1881, he was made the captain. He was promoted to colonel of the Second Regiment, July 26, 1881, and on September 3, 1883, was elected brigadier general and twice re-elected, commanding the First Brigade, Iowa National Guard, for eleven years. He was appointed adjutant general for Iowa, February 1, 1896, by Governor F. M. Drake, and served two years. In his political affiliations Mr. Wright is a Republican, and fraternally is a member of the Odd Fellows order, being past noble grand of Centerville Lodge No. 76, and he is also a past post commander of John L. Bashaw Post No. 122, G. A. R.