Wallace B. Wilson Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 552-553

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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WALLACE B. WILSON, one of the most energetic and progressive farmers 
and stock raisers of Custer township, Beadle county, South Dakota, 
resides on section 25, and devotes his attention to the improvement and 
cultivation of his land with most excellent results. He is honored and 
respected by the entire community, who look upon him as one of the most 
wide awake agriculturists and model citizens. 

Mr. Wilson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, August 23, 1853, and is the 
seventh child of John and Jane (Arnold) Wilson, the former a native of 
Virginia, the latter of Dublin, Ireland. The father was a cooper by 
trade and did a large business in that line, employing many workmen. At 
the age of two years our subject was taken by his parents to Lynn 
county, Iowa, where they bought land, which the father operated in 
connection with the cooperage business. As Wallace B. grew up, he 
became thoroughIy familiar with that business, but, while he was a good 
mechanic, he never followed the cooper's trade after attaining his 
majority. On the 24th of June, 1879, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Rosa Leiphold, who was born in Massachusetts, August 15, 1862, and 
four children have been born to this union, namely: Jesse L., Fred, Leo 
T. and Florence E. They also have an adopted daughter, Nellie Purcell. 

In 1885, Mr. Wilson came to Beadle county, South Dakota, and purchased 
the southeast quarter of section 18, Richland township, but did not 
move his family here until the spring of 1887. He also bought the 
southwest quarter of section 25, Custer township, for which he paid one 
thousand one hundred and fifty dollars, and there he has since made his 
home. He has erected good and commodious buildings upon his place and 
is well equipped for stock raising in which he is extensively engaged, 
generally keeping a herd of one hundred head. Besides the three 
quarter-sections of land now owned by him, he has leased the school 
section and other lands, making in all a farm of one thousand four 
hundred acres under his control. One fine feature of this stock farm 
are the wells of water that are used to fill a large reservoir of about 
one million gallons capacity, which was excavated at the summit of the 
highest elevation on the farm. The soil being very porous a large loss 
of water was sustained, but this difficulty was at length overcome by 
placing therein a bottom of concrete covered with; cement. To be sure 
this required a great amount of time, attended by much labor, but the 
results gained amply repay the effort, since the water thus stored may 
be used for irrigation in summer and the ice privileges in winter. Mr. 
Wilson follows mixed farming and patronizes the creamery in Huron, 
milking quite a number of cows. By strict economy and close attention 
to business he has become one of the successful farmers of the county, 
and has secured for himself and family a comfortable home and 
competence. 

While not a politician in the sense of office seeking, Mr. Wilson is 
interested in good government and uses his right of franchise in 
support of the Populist party and: its principles. He and his wife are 
active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and to 
their efforts is due the fact of the early organization of a Sunday 
school and church society that meets each Sunday throughout the year in 
the school house near their home. Socially he affiliates with the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is largely interested in any 
movement that is for the improvement of his township and county, or 
that will elevate and benefit the people among whom he lives.