University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-01-06
4 Clearing House
For Farmers
A clearing hounse for agricultural idea

happen to be the parent OF real
bright youngester, you may promptly
answer, Why. that's dead easy" for
you have learned to turn your sons
unanswerable queries with Run along.
Willie. I'm busy" or have escaped a
display OF ignorance by that still
easier refuge, Run and ask mama"
But T. c. Wilson. secretary of the
Missouri Board of Agriculture, has
no such easy method of escaping from
the 10000 questions that come to him
every year from as many farmers of
the four corners of Missouri. Nor
does he want to escape the task For
these questions keep him in touch as
nothing else could, with the problems
and needs of the individual farmer
1.-THE opportunities for the upbuilding
of the agricultural interests of the
to do with every possible phase of
farm life--one man even wrote So
lliciting Secretary Wilson's kindly aid
in the selection of wife, Most of
the questions the Board of Agriculture
is able 10 answer, and the secretary's
office in Columbia has come to be a
l"clearing house for agricultural ideas"
Sixteen practical farmers comprise
the membership of Missouri's State
Board of Agriculture-One from each
congressional district of the state
and in addition there are three ex-
Officio members, Governor Hadley. F.
B. Mumford. dean of the Agricultural
College. and the State Superintendent
of Schools. But the main task of
solving the innumerable problems
that hamper the progress of the farm
er. and of planning new and better
methods, that the farmer may more
fully come into his own. deyelopes
upon the secretary, naturally.
By birth and education and train
ing. r. c. Wilson fits into the place
which calls for such a wide range of
agricultural experience and knowl-
edge.
Mr.. Wilson is native of Missouri,
his birthplace being Auburn, in Lin
coin county. His earliest schooling
began at the Auburn Academy, and he
Halter attended the Louisiana College,
of which John A. McAfee, founder of
Park College. was principal. He came
to Columbia and entered the Uniyer-
sity of Missouri in 1869 as freshman.
By diligent application he crowded
a three-year course into two years and
left the University in 1871 as junior.
The summer of 1871 he was employed
as chain man with a surveying com.
pany for the St. Louis, Hannibal and
Keokuk Railway. now the St. Louis
and Hannibal short line. He planned
to return to the University with the
opening of its fall term, but his father
| believed his place was with the sur
iveyOrs. AS he had not attained his
majority his fathers wishes were law
He remained with the surveyors two
years. and was back at the University
| in 1873. He was graduated the fol-
lowing year, winning the scientific
honor for superior excellence in that
department. Five prizes were given
that year by the A. S. Barnes Com
pany of Chicago to members of the
surveying class having highest stand
| ing in mathematics during the. entire
school term. Young Mr. Wilson stood
first in his class, and won a set of
mathematical works. His average
standing was 97.4. A young woman
was his nearest competitor. standing
96.1.
After graduation he went back to
railroad engineering work until 1875,
spending most of his time in Pike
county. In June of that year he re-
turned to the home farm. A few
years later he is found again follow
ing his profession as civil engineer
in railroad construction.
Mr.. Wilson next engaged in the bust
ness of tie contractor, in which he
met with material success for a num-
Der of years. In the meantime he had
married in Troy. In 1898 he made |
Hannibal his home city. and engaged
in general contracting and levy build |
ing.
He met with heavy loss by fire in |
1898 and gave up the contracting busi-
ness. For a number of years after !
this he devoted his time to the care
of his farm four miles from Hannibal.
and to insurance and real estate in
terests. He moved to St Luis in
1907 and again gave his attention to
contracting in ties, operating prin-
cipally in Lincoln, st. Charles, Mont
gomery and Warren counties. 4,