52 Ancestors 2020
Week 17 - Prompt - Where There’s a
Will
John Deck Wilson – 1860-1891
My - great-great uncle
Nancy Simmons to
Paul
Simmons to
June
Putman to
Cora
Wilson to her brother
John
Deck Wilson
Researching in Salt Lake City
several years ago, I discovered the will of John D. Wilson in the Vermilion
County, Illinois probate records. The will was written June 13, 1890[1]
and I wondered if this could possibly be a relative. As I read the will, I
discovered that John's sister was my great grandmother, Cora Elizabeth Wilson.
There was no wife or children
mentioned in the will and after he stated to pay his debts and settle his
accounts Cora is mentioned to receive one bedstead, bed and bedding, my bureau,
rocking chair, cupboard and all my dishes.[2]
Sister Flora Belle was to receive one bedstead, bed and bedding, my singer
sewing machine, all my silverware and my library. He mentioned a third sister
and then wills his two brothers his farming equipment. Who was this person? And
why was he giving his sisters and brothers all his possessions? Most wills are
written late in life and bequest usually went to a spouse and children.
 |
| Will of John D. Wilson signed 13 June 1890 |
The will of John Deck Wilson, my
great grandmother's oldest brother, or my great-great uncle revealed a sad
story. John Deck Wilson was the oldest
child of William and Catherine Deck Wilson born October 26, 1860 in Vermilion
Co., Illinois[3] 10
months after his parents married.
Shortly before his 2nd birthday his father enlists in the Civil War with
the 125th Illinois[4]
Volunteers on September 1862 and he does not return until John is four in
September 1864.
After John's father returns from
the war the family lives in the small town of Bismarck where six siblings are
born into the family. My grandmother,
Cora Elizabeth Wilson, was the fourth child and first girl born to William and
Catherine.
 |
| Marriage Record of John D Wilson, Father - Wm R. Wilson, Mother -Catherine Deck |
 |
| Marriage Record of Emma Jane Collings, Father - James W. Collings, Mother - Arean Moore |
John Deck Wilson married at the age
of 23 to Emma Jane Collings on April 8, 1884.[5] On June 5, 1885[6]
a baby girl named Winnie Wilson is born but eight months later Feb 4, 1886[7]
her mother, Emma Jane, dies from tuberculosis and a month later at nine months
old baby Winnie died due to tuberculosis. Shortly after John's only child died
his mother, Catherine Ellen Deck Wilson, succumbs to the disease on July 15,
1886.[8]
One can only suspect that John's mother was helping with the care of his wife
and child and caught the disease. If
this was not sad enough, five years later, January 22, 1891, John Deck Wilson[9]
also dies due to the dreadful disease at the age of thirty.
 |
| Emma Jane Wife of John D. Wilson Catherine Wilson Mother of John D. Wilson John D. Wilson All Died of Tuberculosis 1886, 1887, 1891 |
Knowing of his impending death,
John writes his will June 13, 1890 and gifts all his possession to his five
living siblings. He leaves his sisters Cora Elizabeth Wilson 19, Flora Belle
Wilson 16, and Mary Edna 10 his household possessions and his two brothers,
William Tecumseh Sherman Wilson 25, and Ulysses S. Grant Wilson 22 years old all
his farming possessions.
My great grandmother lost her
brother, sister-in-law, niece, and her mother to the number one cause of death
in the late nineteenth century, tuberculosis, all within five years. So, when
there’s a will there’s usually a story!
[1] Ancestry.com. Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999, Will Records, Book E-F, 1882-1896 Image 414. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9048/007655550_00414?pid=104427&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D9048%26h%3D104427%26tid%3D112844346%26pid%3D220105934330%26hid%3D1048178082873%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DlKL12%26_phstart%3Ddefault%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26currentPageIsStart%3D&treeid=112844346&personid=220105934330&hintid=1048178082873&usePUB=true&_phsrc=lKL12&_phstart=default&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.87948632.1932983104.1588549550-903469986.1588549550
[2] Ibid.
[3] Find
a Grave, database, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com
: accessed 11 Nov 2015), memorial page for John Deck Wilson (1860-1891), Find A
Grave Memorial no.2301264, <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23012642>
[4] Ancestry.com. Web:
Illinois, Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995 Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Detail
Report, Illinois State Archives, <https://www.ilsos.gov/isaveterans/civilMusterSearch.do?key=279011>
[5] FamilySearch.org.
Vermilion County, IL marriage records, Vol C-D, 1-2, Image 390, page 241.
[6] Find
a Grave, database, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com;
Winnie Wilson, Memorial # 23015995
[7] Find
a Grave, database, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com;
Emma Jane Wilson, Memorial # 23012683
[8] Find
a Grave, database, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com;
Catherine Ellen Wilson, Memorial # 23012611
[9] Find
a Grave, database, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com;
John Deck Wilson, Memorial # 23012642
