Revision as of 09:24, 28 January 2008

James Garfield (Jim) Wilson was a son of James Luther Wilson and Elizabeth A. Stoughton. He was born in 1887, the third of four children. He was, however, the older of the two remaining boys when his older brother and sister both died young. Jim and younger brother Bert worked with their father at the sawmill, and on the farm. He married Lorena B. Mayer, and they had seven children between 1909 an 1922. Over the years they acquired land from Lorena's paternal grandfather, from Jim's maternal grandfather John C. Stoughton, from his father James L. Wilson, and from Jim's uncle Sol Stoughton. Much of his land lay in the area of present day Moraine State Park. After the death of Lorena Jim remarried. His second wife was Della Reddick Wicks and they had three children. Both Jim and Bert followed the "oil excitement" to Venango County, hiring contractor Harry Fithian from Butler to drill wells on their property. Jim died five days before Christmas, in 1931, only two years after the death of his father. He was buried by Lorena at West Liberty Cemetery.

Sources:

Children

( children with Lorena Bernice Mayer)

(children with Della Wicks )

Places of Residence

Photo Gallery

Gravestone at West Liberty Cemetery, Brady Twp., Butler Co. PA

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
1	1900 United States Federal Census, Brady Township, Butler County, PA, Page 2, lines 94-98 lists James L. Wilson, 43, born Feb. 1857, married to Elizabeth A. Wilson, 38, born Feb. 1862. They are listed as having been married for 20 years. They live with their three sons, John L. Wilson, 19, born Oct. 1880; James L. Wilson, 12, born Aug. 1887; and Bert W. Wilson, 10, Feb. 1891. Elizabeth is listed as having mothered 4 children, three of which are alive. The place of birth of James and his parents is listed as PA. James is listed as a Farmer and his son John is listed as a farm laborer. All members of the household are listed as being able to read, write, and speak English. James is listed as owning the farm with no mortgage.
2	1910 United States Federal Census, Worth Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration District 108, Page 3, lines 73-77 lists James L. Wilson, 53, married to Elizabeth A. Wilson, 48. They are listed as having been married for 30 years. Elizabeth is listed as having born 4 children, three of which are alive. The three children, John L. Wilson, 28, James G. Wilson , 22, and Bert W. Wilson, 19, are listed as still living with their parents. Everyone in the family and their parents are listed as being born in PA. Everyone can read, write, and speak English. James is listed as a farmer on his own land.
3	1910 United States Federal Census, Brady Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration District 58, Page 3, lines 8-11 lists James G. Wilson, white male age 22, has been married one year, Sawmill laborer; wife Lorena B. Wilson, age 19, has given birth to one child and it is still alive; daughter Sara P. Wilson, age 10 months. Mabel A. Campbell, white female servant, age 18, single. All born PA, all parents born PA. All 3 adults can read & write. This census is dated 19 Apr 1910.
4	1920 United States Federal Census, West Liberty Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration District 3, Page 4, lines 76-82 lists James G. Wilson, 32, married to Rena Wilson, age "Un". They live with daughter Pearl Wilson, 10; son Merle Wilson, 8; son Brice C. Wilson, 6; daughter Bernice E. Wilson, 4; and son Kenneth Wilson, 2. Pearl and Merle attended school within the last year. James, Rena, and Pearl can read, write, and speak English. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. James G. Wilson is a farmer. This census page is dated 26 Jan 1920, though margin notes indicate that this particular entry was taken on 27 Jan 1920.
5	1930 United States Federal Census, West Liberty Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration District 67, Page 1, lines 9-20 lists James G. Wilson, 43, married to Della R. Wilson, 43. They were both 21 at the time of their first marriage. They live with son Merl A. Wilson, 19; son Brice C. Wilson, 17; daughter Vernice E. Wilson, 14; son Kenneth J. Wilson, 12; daughter Dorothy H. Wilson, 8; son Homel W. Wilson, 7; son James E. Wilson, 3; daughter Mary J. Wilson, 1 year 11 months; daughter Ma[illegible] E. Wilson, 8 months; and stepdaughter Betty Wicks, 7. Vernice, Kenneth, Dorothy, and Homel attended school within the last year. Everyone can read and write except for Homel, James E., Mary, Ma[illegible], and Betty. James G. Wilson and his parents were born in PA. Della was born in WV, though her parents were both born in PA. All of the children were born in PA. James G. Wilson is a farmer on land that he owns. Merl and Brice work as farm laborers. James E., Mary J., Ma[illegible], and Betty are listed as unable to speak English.
6	Butler Co. Cemetery Inventory,Gravestone, West Liberty Cemetery transcribed June 2007 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams. WILSON James G. 1887-1931; Lorena B. 1890-1924.
2	Paul Keith Heckathorn, grandson of James G. Wilson; correspondence 1988-1991.	N/A
3	Russell W. Wilson, nephew of James G. Wilson; recollections, Sept 2006.	N/A

Source notes

• Regarding the two 1910 census entries, it would appear that James L. Wilson and Elizabeth A. Wilson listed all of their living children even though some of them were no longer living there.

Conjecture

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