In the following brief sketch, it shall be our purpose to outline the career of one whose fortune is pre-eminently the outgrowth of a life of industry, aided by but few adventitious circumstances. 
He was born August 3, 1818, in Rockingham County, Virginia, and, at the early age of two years, was robbed by death of the protection and kindly care of a father. At the age of ten years, he was thrown completely on his own resources by the death of his mother. Then began his struggle with the world. In the household of an old gentleman living in the neighborhood of his home, he found an abiding place, if not a home, and was compelled to do the drudgery of the farm, while his employer worked at the blacksmith's trade. Thus, for five years, he toiled on, with but limited opportunities for acquiring even the elements of an education, his school days being comprised within a short period during the winter. At the age of fifteen he cut loose from the ties which bound him to his home, and sought to gain, in the great outside world, the advantages that seemed to elude him in his native locality. He went from that point to Preble County, Ohio, where he engaged his sevices to farmers, working by the month or job. Limited as were the earnings that accrued to him from the performance of these labors, he yet managed to save a small sum each month, always with one end in view--the desire to possess a farm of his own. This ambition animated him and incited him to greater exertions; in all probability, it was the beacon light that led to his success in life.
Lands in Indiana could then be purchased at a much lower price than the old improved lands of Ohio, and with his first accumulated capital of $350, he turned his attention to this State. Traveling by the overland route, he reached Delaware County in the year 1838, and purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in Hamilton Township. One great desire of his life had thus been attained, and it was with a cheerful heart that he set about the labor of clearing the timber from his farm and reducing it to a state of cultivation. In the meantime, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Olivia M. Powers, a young lady then residing with her grandparents, in the vicinity of the farm upon which he had settled. Better acquaintance developed the fact that the young people loved one another, and, on the 23d day of January, 1840, they plighted mutual troth, and were united in marriage at the residence of the bride's father, Nehemiah Powers, in Henry County, Indiana.
The cabin in the woods developed into a cozy little home, and, as added years of industry brought increased prosperity, the cabin was succeeded by a more pretentious structure of hewed logs. Happy, ruddy-faced children came to bless his fireside, and life was bright to him. In the full vigor of early manhood, he toiled to lay up a competence for these loved ones, and success crowned his efforts.
In 1852, he left the farm in Hamilton Township and purchased the one on which he now resides. This was also destitute of any improvements, and he began life again in the woods, in due time clearing this, his second farm, and placing it under cultivation. Little by little he continued to add, by purchase, to his estate, until it finally amounted to 443 acres.
The loving wife whose presence cheered him in the early days of his struggle with fortune, has been spared to share the rewards of their combined industry, and to help him bear the burdens which, in the "shady side" of life, fall upon all. His children, with three exceptions, grew to maturity, and settled in honorable, useful vocations. These were Reason Mark, Gilla and Martha, who are deceased. Four are married: Amanda J. to Mr. E. M. Michiner, of Muncie; Albert H. to Miss Emma, daughter of Maj. W.C. Emerson, of the same city; Mary E. to William McCrillis, of the same city; and Rufus H. to Miss Mary Bose, of Anderson, Ind. Cassandria P. and Sarah E. reside with their parents at the home farm.
In politics, Mr. Williams has acted with the Republican party since its organization; and, while he has always felt a lively interest in its welfare and success, has never permitted himself to be a candidate for any office within the gift of its members.
In religion, he is a consistent member of the Society of Friends. His life has been honorable and upright, and these characteristics have gained for him a large circle of friends, among whom his memory will ever be cherished and honored. (Page 237)
Mr. Willson was an early settler in the town of Muncie, and is well known throughout the county as a farmer and capitalist. 
He was born April 12, 1816 at Easton, Washington Co., N.Y. His father, Osborn Willson, was a native of Vermont, but removed to Washington County, New York, and resided at the town of Greenwich, in that county, for sixty years. He died February 13, 1880, at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother of our subject was Susan (Clapp) Willson, a lady of Welsh antecedents on the father's side, while the maternal ancestors were Scotch. She was born in Salem, Washingtou Co., N. Y., and died in August, 1875, in her seventy-sixth year.
Volney was the oldest of twelve childern, eleven of whom, at some time during their lives, were engaged in the vocation of school-teaching. He received his preliminary education in the district schools of his native county, and, when he was twelve years old, entered a seminary at Union Village, N. Y., where he pursued his studies during the four succeeding summers. Afterward, he engaged in teaching school during the winter, and in summer was occupied with his duties at the home farm. When twenty one years of age, he came to Indiana and located at Muncie, where he again taught school, being thus engaged for two years. At the end off that time, he formed a partnership with John A. Gilbert in the grocery trade, but, about two years later, again engaged in teaching school. During the next few years, he was engaged alternately in teaching, superintending- his farm of 500 acres, and acting as Deputy Treasurer of Delaware County. In 1844, he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, and was reelected three consecutive terms, this fact being a sufficient guarantee of the ability with which he discharged the duties of his position, and the confidence reposed in him by the people. Since 1853, he has devoted his time to farming and stock raising, brokerage transactions, buying and selling wool and cattle, etc. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of the State, as he is one of the most systematic. His domain of 900 acres
is well cultivated, and bears evidence of skilled tillage, in all of its departments. He is quite enthusiastic in agricultural matters, and, for a number of years has been associated with the State Fairs in an official capacity. He has stood prominent as a friend of public enterprises, and has subscribed liberally to all the railroads and turnpikes centering at Muncie. He was a Director and Treasurer of the Muncie & Granville Turnpike, and of the Muncie and Yorktown Turnpike, Company. For eight years, he was a Director of the Branch Bank of the State of Indiana, at Muncie, and has been a stockholder in the Cincinnati & Chicago, the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroads.
In polities, he was originally a Whig, but embraced the principles of the Republican party, with whch he still continues to act. He has attended all of the political State Conventions during the past twenty-five years, having officiated several times as a delegate. In 1876, he was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Philadelphia, but declined to serve.
He is independent in his religious views, and not identified with any denomination; yet he is a generous contributor to the erection and maintenance of churches, and every church in Muncie owes something to his liberality. He was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1852, and has taken all the degrees of the subordinate lodge. He has been actively identified with the free schools of this county, and is a stauch friend to the cause of education.
In his business transactions, he has always sustained a reputation for honesty and fair dealing, and was never involved in a suit at law on his own account. He is a man of strong individuality, firm in his convictions, and fearless in his defense of the right as he sees it. He is appreciated by all who know him, and is recognized as a reliable and worthy citizen.
In February, 1843, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, who has proved a loving and devoted wife in the years that have passed since the utterance of the vows that made them one. She is the daughter of John A. Gilbert, Esq., who served as one of the Associate Judges of Delaware County, and as Justice of the Peace for a nmnber of years. They are the parents of two daughters and four sons, of which number one son is deceased. (Pages 237-238)
came from Dayton, Ohio, to Connersville, Ind., and thence to Muncie, about the year 1829, with his family. Among the daughters were Mrs. Dr. Minshall, Mrs. Samuel Parker and Mrs. Caleb B. Smith--the husbands of the two latter being famous men in their time.
Mr. Watton was a merchant for a time, but closed his business in that line and retired to a farm just south of Muncie, where he devoted
the residue of his life to agricultural pursuits. He died about forty
years ago. (Page 238)
The grandparents of this gentleman were early settlers in Ohio. His paternal grandfather, Amos Wilson, was, for many years, a minister of the Baptist Church in Clinton County, Ohio, and his maternal grandfather, Robert Long, was also a resident of that county, a Whig, and a noted Abolitionist. His house, after he came to Delaware County, about 1837, was a station on the "underground railway," he receiving fugitive slaves from the committee in Wayne County and conveying them to some trusted allies in the adjoining county of Grant, on their way to Canada. His ideas were in advance of the time in which he lived, and he made himself very unpopular by his abolition doctrines. He owned and cultivated a farm in Union Township, where he died in 1849 or 1850.
Benoni Wilson, the son of Amos, and father of our subject, was a farmer and brick-mason, and erected a number of brick houses in this county. He was a minister of the Christian (or Campbellite) Church, working during the week and preaching on Sunday. He came to Delaware County from Clinton County, Ohio, about the year 1837, and purchased a farm in Delaware Township, where he died in 1847.
Amos L., the subject of this sketch, was born February 20, 1842, at the homestead in Delaware County, Indiana. At the early age of five years, he was deprived of a father's care by the death of the latter, and was made self-reliant, to a great extent, even in his infancy. This feature marked the boy's life. and has been a guiding-star to his manhood. He entered the district school, which he attended yearly during the winter season, acquiring a good English education. In time, his elder brothers left home, and the management of the farm devolved upon him. Besides himself, there were three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to honorable and useful maturity. Jesse W., the eldest, is now the President of the County Board of Supervisors at Sacramento, Cal., while John W. and Benoni G. are engaged in agricultural pursuits-the former near Muncie, the latter in the state of Kansas. The daughters are all married and living in this county: Mary J., is the wife of Simon Shannon; Lucy A., the widow of Lieut. N. B. Gregory, who was killed at the battle of Nashville in 1865, is now living at Muncie; and Rachel L. is the wife of Edward Shideler, of Eaton.
Amos continued to manage the farm until 1862, when, with his plans in life only half formed, his country called for the services of brave men in her defense. He enlisted as a private soldier in Company K, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was soon after promoted to the rank of Second Sergeant. He participated with his regiment in the battle of Chickamauga, and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and, at the battle of Nashville, Tenn., the last in which his regiment was engaged, He was wounded in the left leg by a cannister-shot from the enemy's battery. It carried away the bone, and the surgeons, finding it impossible to save the limb, amputated it the same day. He was honorably discharged on account of this wound, and his regiment was mustered out of service two weeks later.
After his return from the army, he attended and taught school alternately until 1868. In the spring of that year, he was nominated by the Republicans of Delaware County for the office of County Treasurer, by a pluralityof 1,644 votes over all competitors. The opposition did not nominate a candidate for this office, and he became the unanimous choice of the people of the county. At the expiration of his first term, he was re-elected again without opposition.
During his second term of office, November 8, 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C., daughter of B. F. Carey, Esq., of Albany, Delaware Co., Ind.
He retired from the office at the close of his second term, and engaged in the dry goods trade, which proved disastrous. In the fall of 1878, he became Deputy Auditor of Delaware County, and, in the spring of 1880, was again nominated by the Republicans for the office of County Treasurer. A heated canvass this time followed his nomination, and the opposition seemed to concentrate its force upon him; yet such was his record, established by a former administration of the office, that an eloquent indorsement of his previous services was expressed by the citizens of the county, in a majority of 1,690 votes, in October of the same year.
No words of eulogy from our pen could convey as eloquent and convincing a testimonial to his character as did this action by the voters of the county in which he was reared, and which stands as an official recognition of his merits. He is esteemed alike in private and public life, as the kind neighbor, the genial host, and the faithful servant to public trusts. He has a pleasant home in this city, gladdened by a loving wife and two interesting sons--Charles S. and Eugene.
He is a member of Muncie Lodge, No. 74, and Muncie Encampment, No. 30, I. O. O. F., and has passed the ellairs in both branches of the order, and represented each in the Grand Lodge of the State. (Page 238)