Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 820 - 821

L. A. WILSON, examiner for the Lombard Mortgage Company, is a well-known gentleman, and has been prominently identified, first, with local concerns, later with county affairs, since 1878, He is an able financier, and has greatly increased his wealth since coming to Kansas, at which time he was worth $4,000. Now he owns a fine farm of 240 acres, in Lincoln Township, and has much valuable property in this city and elsewhere. He was born in Portage County, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1835. His ancestors were dwellers in New England for several generations, he being a descendant of those Wilsons who many years ago settled in that part of the country. His father, Austin Wilson, was born in Connecticut, in 1792, and was there bred to the life of a farmer. After becoming a man he migrated to Ohio, and married Mary Tucker, a native of Vermont, her ancestors also being early settlers of the New England States. This couple, after marriage, spent their entire wedded life in Portage County, settling there in 1818, and by hard labor won a comfortable home for themselves and their children, and by leading honorable lives gained the respect of those about them. The father died in 1864, and the mother in 1872. Of their marriage nine children had been born, namely: Edwin, of Palmyra, Ohio, a real-estate dealer; Bingley, deceased; Henrietta, wife of Charles Wilson, of Warren, Ohio; Melinda, wife of M. D. Loveless, of Warren, Ohio; Lucinda, deceased, was the wife of William Breeze, of Cleveland, Ohio; Luther A.; John, with the Rock Island Railway Company, lives in Wichita; Francis, deceased; Urana, wife of William Kirkpatrick, of Warren, Ohio.

            Our subject was educated in the common schools and in the High School at Warren, Ohio, his Principals being at the time of his attendance there Gen. J. D. Cox and M. D. Leggett. At the age of sixteen he left the farm and learned the trade of carriage-maker, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Afterward he acquired a knowledge of carpentering, and pursued that calling for some years. In 1856 he went to LaSalle County, Ill., and was there engaged in carpentering the ensuing four years. He then turned his attention to the general mercantile trade, at Tonica, in the same county.

            In 1862 Mr. Wilson threw aside his business to take part in the war, enlisting in Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, serving in the Commissary Department, and then was appointed as Second Lieutenant of Battery D, 1st Tennessee Light Artillery, which rank he held till the close of the war. He took part in the battle of Nashville, and many minor engagements, serving his country with bravery and distinction. After his retirement from the army he returned to Tonica, where he obtained employment as Station Agent on the Illinois Central Railway, and also held the office of Postmaster for that town, retaining that position for thirteen years. In 1876 he came to Kansas to look for a favorable location, as he wished to take up his residence in this State, and in 1878 removed with his family to Lincoln Township, Sedgwick County, where he bought a farm and became prominently identified with the agricultural interests of that township. Soon his shrewdness and capability were recognized by his fellow-townsmen, and he was chosen to fill various township offices during his residence there. In 1884 Mr. Wilson was elected County Commissioner, and has since made his home in Wichita. He discharged the duties of that office with great honor to himself and to the general satisfaction of those whose votes had placed him in that important position. During his term of office he also represented the company with which he is now connected.

            While living in Illinois our subject was married, in 1859, to Miss Augusta M. Allen, daughter of Harvey Allen. She was, like himself, a native of Ohio, Trumbull County being the place of her birth. She is a sincere member of the Christian Church, and a zealous worker for the cause it represents. Of this union seven children have been born: Ella A.; Hettie, wife of James W. Tear; William, Frank, Kittie, Mary and Eva.

            Mr. Wilson has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1865, has passed all the Chairs in the lodge, both subordinate and Encampment, and he also belongs to the G. A. R. He takes an active part in politics, and is a worthy representative of the Republican party.

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