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William H. Wilcox - The New York / Wisconsin / South Dakota Wilcoxs



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.  William H. 
and Sarah J. Wilcox 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.  Battle of Prairie Grove

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


Linked toLuce Sarah Jane; Wilcox William H.

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