The Ralph and Scott Wilson farm on Spring
Prairie Road was founded in 1836 and known
as Gardner's Prairie, named after the original
homesteader, Palmer Gardner. Palmer
Gardner built a log house, the first house in
Spring Prairie on the site where Robert and
Grace Wilson spent their lives.
Ralph's grandfather, John C. Wilson, was
known for raising popcorn. For fifty years,
Robert S. Wilson, Ralph's father, shipped
lambs from Montana and from fall to spring
fattened the lambs before shipping via train
to the Chicago market. The Wilson family now
raises and sells pure-bred hog breeding stock
and some pigs for heart research on their
seven hundred acre farm. Corn, hay, wheat
and soybeans are planted for feed.
One stone barn remains from all the old build-
ings. The farms have seen five generations of
Wilsons grow up and work the farm. Ralph
and Jeanette Wilson have one son, Scott,
and two daughters, Julie and Jan, and eight
grandchildren.


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