Representative Willis Walter Wilson View All Years

W. WALTER WILSON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable W. Walter Wilson begs to submit the following memorial:

W. Walter Wilson was born in Franklin, Indiana, September 5, 1869, and passed away February 6, 1952, at the age of 82 years, 5 months and one day.

He was the son of James and Nancy Allen Wilson. When Mr. Wilson was four the family came to Iowa, making the trip in a prairie schooner which was ferried across the Mississippi River at Burlington. The family settled on a farm on the Tama-Black Hawk County line in 1873. As a boy he herded cattle on unbroken and unfenced prairie. He was reared on the homestead, attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, graduating in 1892. He also attended the University at Iowa City, and received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894. Before marriage he was a teacher for a few years in Hamilton County, in the Hudson School and in the school of his home distict.

On March 1, 1898, he married Sarah Sophie Keeler. Mr. Wilson had bought a farm in Hamilton County and farmed it until 1905, when he purchased a farm in Tama County near Traer, Iowa. He was active in farming until March 1, 1926, when he retired to Traer.

The Wilsons were parents of three children, all living; Carl and Mrs. Roland (Iris) Bohnsack of Traer, and Doothy, a teacher in the high school at Medford, Oregon.

While still on the farm in Buckingham, Mr. Wilson was induced to become the Republican candidate for Tama County Representative in the lower House of the Iowa General Assembly. He was elected and served in the Fortieth, Fortieth Extra, Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-second Extra and Forty-third sessions of the Legislature.

He was the second president of the Tama County Farm Bureau elected in 1919. He was one of the organizers in 1919 of the Buckingham Grain company, serving as secretary of the company for 30 years, retiring in 1949. For 25 years he was president and a director of the Farmers Lumber Company of Traer. He was active in the Traer Methodist Church many years, serving as a trustee and in other offices. He was a 32nd degree Mason, and a citizen of high principles and character.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-fifth General Assembly of Iowa, That in the passing of The Honorable W. Walter Wilson, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful, useful public servant, and the House, by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

LAWRENCE PUTNEY,

GEORGE PAUL,

R. O. BURROWS, SR.,

Committee.