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Walter Pritchard

Among the enterprising and highly respected citizens of Fayette county, Iowa, is Walter Pritchard, owner of one of the banner farms of Illyria township, and who has come to us from the far-away little country of Wales, his birth having occurred in Breconshire, that country, on November 17, 1844. He was educated in the public schools of Wales and spent one term in school in Pennsylvania. He is the son of William and Esther (Price) Pritchard, both natives of Breconshire, Wales. They left their native country in June, 1855, and came to America, locating in Tremont, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where they lived on year, then came to Fayette county, Iowa, in June, 1856, where the elder Pritchard purchased seventy acres in section 18, Illyria township, and remained there one year. Then he sold out and bought one hundred and ten acres in section 8, of this township, later adding ninety-one acres to his first purchase, and here the parents made their home until their deaths. The father was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Wales, but did not join this lodge after coming to America. Politically, he was a Democrat, but never an office seeker. His family consisted of three children, namely: Walter of this review; Ann, wife of W. H. McGee, of Illyria township; Mary, wife of George Follensbee, who resides on the Pritchard homestead in Illyria township. The mother of these children died on May 11, 1864, when forty-four years of age. William Pritchard, the father, was born July 4, 1813, died February 13, 1891. Walter Pritchard, of this review, remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he moved to a forty-acre farm of wild land which his father gave him in section 17, Illyria township, also bought three acres more in order to get a proper outlet to the highway. The only dwelling on this place was a small log house, with clapboard roof. After living on this farm one year, he sold it and bought eighty acres in section 5, where he has since made his home. He has added to his original purchase at different times, until he had two hundred acres. Of this amount he gave his son, Wilson W, fifty acres. The subject also bought eighty-one acres, forty in section 32, Pleasant Valley township, and forty-one in section 5, Illyria township, which he gave to his son William. He has always carried on diversified farming, and he retired from active farm work three years ago and now rents his place to his son Wilson. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never held office.

On October 28, 1865, Walter Pritchard married Ann Wilson, who was born in county Durham, England, March 10, 1847, the daughter of Christopher and Jane (Morras) Wilson, natives of England, the father born October 26, 1823, and the mother in 1824. They came to America in June, 1852, locating at once in Fayette county, Iowa, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 9 and 16, Illyria township, later purchased forty acres in section 15, later bought one hundred and twenty-seven acres in section 9 and 16, also owned a half section in Cherokee county, Iowa. Mr. Wilson continued to reside on his farm in Illyria township until his death, February 27, 1885. Mrs. Wilson died August 20, 1872, leaving seven children, namely: Mrs. Ann Pritchard; William M., who lives in Union township; Judith, who died in 1909, when fifty-three years old; Christopher H. lives in section 17, Illyria township; John lives in section 5, Illyria township; Joseph lives in Fayette county; Mary is the wife of Louis Hunsberger, of Illyria township. Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard are the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Esther, born in October, 1866, wife of John Langerman, of Westfield township; Jane, born February 23, 1868, is the wife of J.E. Dickinson, of Westfield township and has two sons, Ralph M. and Harry E.; William Pritchard, born June 9, 1870, married Beula Baldwin, lives in Illyria township and has one child, Walter A.; Wilson W., born November 25, 1871, married Della Butler, an they have one child, Roscoe D.; Mary D., born November 11, 1873, died August 13, 1892; Stella A., born April 3, 1876, is the wife of George Baldwin, lives in Illyria township and has three children, Albert Clarence and Clinton.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Steve Boeding