The
New York / Wisconsin / South Dakota
Wilcox’s
William H. and Sarah
Jane (Luce) Wilcox
William
H. Wilcox – Margaret May Wilcox - Lillian Mae (Nelson) Kipp
NEW YORK
William H. Wilcox was born on June
30, 1843 in Oswego County, New York, the fourth of seven children of
Harvey N. and Amanda A. (Brown) Wilcox. Both Harvey and Amanda
were born in New York. William, with his parents and siblings,
moved to Wisconsin in the 1850s.
Sarah Jane Luce was born on December
30, 1842 in Livingston County, New York, the fourth of seven children
of Warren S. and Margaret (McGregor) Luce. Warren was born in
Vermont and Margaret was born in either Scotland or in New York as a
child of Immigrants from Scotland. Sarah, her older brother, and
three sisters moved to Wisconsin in the early 1860s. Her parents
and her oldest sister remained in New York. The youngest brother
served in the Civil War and reportedly died in a Confederate prison
located in North Carolina.
WISCONSIN
The Harvey N. Wilcox family was living
in Forsyth, Green Lake County, Wisconsin in the 1860 census. In
a letter dated November 26, 1912 William H. Wilcox states that in 1861
their house in Waushara County was destroyed by fire and the family
bible was lost. Waushara County is on the northern border of
Green Lake County. The 1870 census finds them living in Berlin, Green
Lake County, Wisconsin. Harvey was a farmer and William worked
as a farm laborer. In 1862, at the age of 19, William joined
the Union Army in the Civil War. After his discharge in August
1865 he returned to the family home in Berlin, Wisconsin.
Sarah Jane Luce and her siblings also
moved to Green Lake County, Wisconsin. William and Sarah Jane
met after the Civil War and were married on October 1, 1866. Census
records indicate this was her second marriage.
William and Sarah had eight children
while they lived in Wisconsin, Albert (1866), Charles Fred (1867), Walter
P. (1870), Eugenia Stella (1873), William (about 1876), Edward Harvey
(1878), Margaret May (1880), and Stanley (1885).
SOUTH DAKOTA
William and Sarah and their family
moved to Dakota Territory in 1886. They first settled in Midway,
just north of Sioux Falls, in what is now part of Minnehaha County,
South Dakota. 
They later lived in Galla, Moody County,
South Dakota, an historic town that no longer exists. They then
moved to Flandreau, Moody County, South Dakota. They remained
in Flandreau for the rest of their lives.
Family records state they adopted two
boys, both of whom died of high fever. Their youngest son, Stanley,
died in 1895 at just over 10 years of age.
William worked as a farm laborer and
later owned his own farm. Sarah was a mid-wife and used a horse
and buggy to go where she was needed. She also taught at the
Rigg’s Institute, now known as the Flandreau Indian School.
Sarah Jane died on October 22, 1914
of chronic bronchitis and dilation of heart. She is buried in
Union Cemetery in Flandreau. William suffered a stroke on
May 1, 1924 and required continual personal care, which was provided
by his daughter Eugenia, and Dr. Fisk, until his death.
William died on August 31, 1929. He is buried alongside Sarah
Jane at the Union Cemetery in Flandreau.
MILITARY SERVICE
William H. Wilcox joined Company K,
20th Regiment of the Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, as a
private on August 14, 1862 in the service of the United States in the
Civil War. He was mustered into service in Madison, Dane County,
Wisconsin. 
William was wounded at the Battle of
Prairie Grove, Arkansas on December 7, 1862. The extent or type
of wound is not known but he remained with the Wisconsin Infantry.
The regiment suffered a total of 48 killed, 148 wounded and 8 missing
in this battle. The battle was one of the bloodiest ever fought
west of the Mississippi.
The20th Regiment was involved in several
significant battles during the war. During the war the regiment
lost five officers, and 100 men killed or mortally wounded
William contacted a severe intestinal
disease in the fall of 1863 near New Orleans, Louisiana as a result
of army food. This disease would impact his health for the remainder
of his life. During the war the regiment lost 1 officer and 145 enlisted
men by disease.
He filed for an invalid pension on
June 20, 1890 as a result of the intestinal disease and it was approved
on April 1, 1891. In subsequent years as the pension program changed
and his health deteriorated, he had substantial correspondence with
the Commissioner of Pensions to increase his pension. He had some
success over the years and obtained the final adjustment about one month
before his death.
The Civil War pension files list his
height as 5 feet, 6 inches, light complexion, hair, and eyes.
One document states his normal weight as 195. While most documents
only list his middle name as “H.”, He signed his name as William
Henry Wilcox in a letter dated October, 5, 1918.
He was honorably discharged as a Corporal
on July 14, 1865 in Galveston, Galveston County, Texas. His unit
was disbanded on August 9, 1865. He then returned to Berlin, Wisconsin.
CENSUS
1850 Census
The 1850 Census for Mexico, Oswego
County, New York lists William as age 8. His father, Harvey is
listed as age 41 and his mother Amanda as age 40. Harvey’s occupation
is listed as farmer.
1860 Census
The 1860 Census for Forsyth, Green
Lake County, Wisconsin lists William as age 18 and his occupation is
listed as laborer. His father, Harvey is listed as age 51, and
his mother, Amanda as age 50. Harvey’s occupation is listed
as farmer and Amanda is listed as having an occupation of weaver.
1870 Census
The 1870 Census for Berlin, Green Lake
County, Wisconsin lists William as age 30 with an occupation of farm
laborer. His wife, Jane (Sarah), is also shown as age 30 and keeping
house. The value of their personal estate is listed as $500, with
no real estate. Two children are listed, Bert (Albert) and Fred,
both at age 3.
1880 Census
The 1880 Census for Berlin, Green Lake
County, Wisconsin lists William as age 37 with an occupation of farmer
and Sarah at age 37 and keeping house. Other children listed are
Albert, age 12, Fred, age 11, Walter, age 8, Eugenia, age 6, and Eddie,
age 2.
1890 Census
Most of the 1890 Census was destroyed.
1900 Census
The 1900 Census for Flandreau, Moody
County, South Dakota lists William as age 57, born in June 1842 and
Sarah as age 56 and born in December 1843. William’s occupation is
listed as farm laborer. . It also states that they have
been married 34 years. That they owned a home that is free from
mortgage. Two additional children were born after the 1880 census but
are not shown as living with William and Sarah. They are Margaret
May born after the census in 1880, and Stanley born in 1885. It also
states that Sarah was the mother of 11 children, of which 5 are living.
1910 Census
The 1910 Census for Flandreau, Moody
County, South Dakota lists William and Sarah both at age 65. William’s
occupation is noted as a farmer. It also states that they have
been married 42 years and that this was Sarah’s second marriage.
They also owned a farm that is free from mortgage. The farm is
listed as farm schedule 8. Additional information on the
farm is not available as the schedules have been destroyed. It
also states he is a survivor of the Union Army. Sarah was noted
as the mother of 11 children, of which 5 are living. As Sarah
died in 1914 this is the last census in which she was listed.
1920 Census
The 1920 Census for Flandreau,
Moody County, South Dakota lists William at age 76 and no occupation.
No one else is listed in the household. He is listed as owning
a home that is free from a mortgage. As William died in 1929 this
is the last census in which he was listed.
Copyright 2009 by E. Michael Kipp,
All Rights Reserved
Sources
Death Certificates (William H. Wilcox,
Sarah J. Wilcox)
Obituary (William Wilcox)
Civil War Pension Files for William
H. Wilcox
National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers
and Sailors System, Union Wisconsin Volunteers, 20th Regiment,
Wisconsin Infantry
Wisconsin State Journal, December 22,
1862
Arkansas in the Civil War
Family Records
US Federal Census of 1850, Mexico,
Oswego County, New York
US Federal Census of 1860, Berlin,
Green Lake County, Wisconsin
US Federal Census of 1870, Berlin,
Green Lake County, Wisconsin
US Federal Census of 1880, Berlin,
Green Lake County, Wisconsin
US Federal Census of 1900, Flandreau,
Moody County, South Dakota
US Federal Census of 1910, Flandreau,
Moody County, South Dakota
US Federal Census of 1920, Flandreau,
Moody County, South Dakota
