Welcome to
Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
|
|
|
|
Edward Wilcox "Ed" Wilcox, as he
is familiarly known, is a genial and generous soul, ever willing to lend a
helping hand when his services are needed, and he experiences no trouble in
either making or retaining friends. Mr. Wilcox was
born in Rockford, Floyd County, Iowa, June 8, 1867, and is the son of Joseph and
Huldah (Garey) Wilcox. The father was born in Columbus, Ohio, March l, 1837, and
the mother in Smethport, McKean County, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1846; they
were married in the latter state on December 7, 1865.
The father had come to Iowa with his widowed mother in the early days
here, and the Wilcoxes have thus figured more or less prominently in the
upbuilding of the County. When the
Civil war came on Joseph Wilcox turned
from the pursuits of agriculture and in 1861 enlisted in the Third Iowa Battery
at Dubuque, in which he served four years and three months as a brave and
efficient soldier. After his first
enlistment expired he re-enlisted as a veteran and was in the western division
of the Union army under Generals Curtis, Siegel and others.
Some of the many engagements in which he took part were those of Pea
Ridge, Pine Bluff, Ball's Bluff, Fort Smith, Helena and others.
He was never wounded, captured or in a hospital, and he was honorably
discharged at the close of the war. Jasper
County has had no better citizen than Joseph Wilcox, and his death, on January
27, 1890, caused the many who knew him to mourn the loss of a truly good and
useful man. Besides being a farmer,
he was a blacksmith and general artificer and was widely and favorably known.
His widow is now residing on the home farm in Palo Alto Township.
Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, namely: Mary, who married Alfred Lynn, since deceased; James was next
in order of birth; William is now deceased; Harriett married Homer Thompson,
lives on a farm in this County, as does also Franklin. Edward
Wilcox grew up on the farm and was educated in the home schools.
He has devoted his life to tilling the soil and his efforts have been
amply rewarded. He owns a small tract of very productive land, and in connection
with this he also operates his mother's homestead adjoining. He is a man of known public spirit and has served Palo Alto
Township in many ways; he has been a member of the school board for many years
and is president of the same at this writing.
He has also served two terms as Township clerk, and has held several
Township offices, being regarded as a faithful and conscientious public servant.
On
November 4, 1891, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Sylvania V. Garey,
daughter of Johnson and Ellen Garey, natives of Pennsylvania. They were
extensive farmers and well known landowners, both being now deceased; Sylvania,
who married Mr. Wilcox, was their adopted child. To Edward Wilcox and wife three
children have been born, all living, namely:
Letha May, who was born September 11, 1892, is teaching in the County
schools; Nina June, born September 13, 1894; Willis Frederick, born April
2,1898. Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their two daughters belong to the United Presbyterian Church, and are active in the general work of the Church and serving the local congregation as organists. Politically, Mr. Wilcox is a Democrat, and, fraternally, he belongs to Central Lodge No. 73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also Encampment No. 16, of Newton, Iowa. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 997. |
|
|
