Traer Star Clipper, Friday, August 10, 1923 page 1

West W. Wilson died at the home of his daughter at Capron, Illinois last Sunday, utter an illness extending over several years. Mr. Wilson was one of the earliest settlers of this vicinity, arriving here with his parents when a lad of eight years. He was born in Glenn Loose, Wigtonshire, Scotland, July 6, 1848. He came to America with his father's family in 1851. The family located first in Connecticut and remained there for four and a half years, and then removed to Tama county, Iowa, in 1855, locating on a farm west of Traer. Mr. Wilson was the son of John Wilson and Jean McCosh Wilson and was the seventh in a family of fourteen children. W h e n h e grew to manhood he farmed for a few years and then became a buyer and shipper of stock in Traer, which business he followed until some twenty-five or more years ago, when he removed to Chicago and embarked in the commission business, handling all kinds of livestock and continued this business until near the close of his life.

He was united in marriage here with Miss Agnes McCornack, November 28, 1871. Five children were the fruit of this union, two of whom have passed into the g re a t beyond. The living children are: Charles, associated with his father in business in Chicago; Margaret, who gave thirteen years to mission work in India, but who has been at home for the last few years, and in the last illness of her father served faithfully and lovingly as his nurse: and Mrs. Ruth Cleland, of Capron, Illinois, at whose home her father came to the close of his earthly life. Of his father's family his six brothers and three of his sisters have preceded him in death. The living are: Miss Flora Wilson and Mrs. Jeannett Sloss, Traer; Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards, Cedar Heights; and Mrs. David McWhirter, Vivian, South Dakota. At about the ag e of seventeen years Mr. Wilson made his confession of Jesus Christ and united with the Tranquillity Presbyterian church. Ones ¬establishing his own home he set up the family altar and faithfully maintained it through all the years that followed. Mr. Wilson left a host of warm friends when he left Traer, and by his frequent visits here and his extensive business connections with north Tama farmers, held that friendship throughout all the years. Few men who have lived here were held in higher regard than West Wilson. He was every inch a man. The body was brought to the old home on Tuesday and funeral services were held in the United Presbyterian, conducted by Dr. Billingsley. There was a liberal attendance. The body was placed in Buckingham cemetery.

Contributor: George (48419540)