National Women's Month-Louisa Jane Alexander Wilson

 This post is about my second great grandaunt, Louisa Jane Alexander. She was born on September 1, 1846, in Jackson County, Indiana. Her parents were John Henry Alexander and Mary Frances Carter. Mary was also known at Frankie in her early days. The marriage was the second marriage for both of them. 

The first problem I ran into while trying to keep track of Louisa and her siblings was the 1850 census. She and her sister were missing. I found her parents and a baby Isaac right where they should be.  Louisa and Mahala were missing for several years in my research. Then a gen-friend emailed me about the 1850 census. She had found Mahala Alexander, 5 years old and Louisa J. Alexander, 3 years old and in the house of a Nancy Hutchinson in Brownstown, Indiana. In 1860 they were both back in the home of their parents. I have not connected Nancy to the family yet and the only recognizable name in her household is an Elizabeth King. Louisa 's grandmother was Sally King Alexander. Maybe a connection, maybe not. 

On October 27, 1867, a 21-year-old Louisa married Ephraim Cole Wilson in Brownstown, Indiana. Ephraim had been a corporal in the Union army. Their marriage produced five children, Minnie Belle, Orland C., Dillard, Willard, and Pirtle.

In the 1870 census, Louisa and Ephraim are farming out in Jackson County, Indiana. I thought I had lost them as I could not find them in the 1880 census. I am sure they did not go out of county or state, so I am going to keep trying to find them in 1880. It must have been during this time that the changes were taking place, a change of career for Ephraim, and the beginning of a family business. 

In 1900 I found them living on Spring Street in Brownstown, Indiana, not out in the county. Ephraim was listed as a Livestock Dealer. Living with them are son Pirtle, 18, who is listed as a butcher. Clyde is there listed as a son but is really a grandson. He is 10 years old. Orlean, 27-year-old son, his wife Kate, and baby Hubert are there too. Orlean is also a butcher. This was the beginning of something that is still going on in the Wilson family in 1841, in Brownstown. 

By the 1910 census, Ephraim and Louisa are still in Brownstown on Bridge Street. He is no longer working. Grandson Hubert is 10 and still with them. His mother Kate (Moreland) died in 1901. Perhaps Louisa only cared for him while his father worked. His father Orland had remarried in 1906, and I know that the new wife (Rebecca Cummings) worked with him at the Wilson Market.

Ephraim died on January 31, 1915. His death certificate says he died of Chronic Cystitis.  He was 68 years old. His obituary says he was sick for some time. He and Louisa had been married for 49 years. I can only imagine her grief. 

Five years after Ephriam's death, in the 1920 census, Louisa is 72 and still living in Brownstown. Herbert is still with her at age 19. This is going to be the last time she will be in a census. 

She dies in 1926 at the age of 79 of heart disease. She had been ill and bed-ridden for 9 months. She was living at the home of her eldest daughter, Minnie Eisele, when she died. She was buried beside Ephraim in the Fairview Cemetery there in Brownstown.

I think a part of her and Ephraim still continues. If you take a trip to Brownstown, Indiana, you can still do business with a Wilson. You see, you will find on Bolles Street, a little place called Wilson's Slaughtering & Processing (established 1892). It's nice to know it continues.

 SOURCES for this post:

1. "United States Census, 1850, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJV-TCN); Nancy Hutchinson; Brownstown, Jackson, Indiana; Dwelling 769, Family 772, Line 2. 

Hutchinson, Nancy 43, Rebecca 14, Elizabeth King 45, Malaha 5, Louisa 3.

2. "United States Census, 1860"

Alexander, John 1860 U.S. Census

Jackson County, Indiana Hamilton TWP

Series: M653 Roll: 268 Page: 761

Dwelling 840 Family 819

Alexander, John 41, Francis 55, John H 17, Mahala 16, Louisa 13

3. "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZQR-YSL : 21 January 2016), Ephraim Wilson and Louisa J Alexander, 27 Oct 1867; citing Jackson, Indiana, United States, various county clerk offices, Indiana; FHL microfilm 1,314,625.

4. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXXB-1DT), Ephram Wilson; Owen Township, Jackson, Indiana, United States; Dwelling 806, Family 806, Line 20, Page 117.

Wilson, Ephraim 24, Louisa 24, Minnie B. 6mos.

5. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM1T-QGT), Hubert Wilson in entry for Epherum Wilson, 1900; ED: 66, Sheet: 12, Line: 1, Dwelling: 241, Family 254.

 Wilson, Epherin 54, Louisa 54, Pirtle 18, Clyde 10, Orlean 27, Cate 27, Hubert (grandson) 1.

 

 6. "United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKP3-CJX), Ephrim Wilson, Brownstown, Jackson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 58, Sheet 14A, Dwelling 194, Family 196, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 357; FHL microfilm 1,374,370.

Wilson, Ephraim 65, Louisa 63, Hubert (grandson) 10.    

7. "United States, Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF7G-3VY : Wed Jan 22 17:07:45 UTC 2025), Entry for Louisa Jane Wilson and Hurbert Wilson, 1920.   

Wilson, Louisa 72, Hubert (grandson) 19. 

8. "Article; Newspapers.com"; Jackson County Banner, Brownstown, Indiana, Obituary - Louisa Wilson; 28 July 1926; Page 5.

9. "Indiana Archives and Records Administration"; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1926-1927; Roll: 10 Ancestry.com. Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Registered No. 20 [23655];

Brownstown, Brownstown, Jackson, Indiana.

Death; July 25, 1926 Informant: Mrs Geo. Eisele Cause: Heart Disease

    

10. "Find a Grave", database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197824694/louise-jane-wilson), memorial page for Louise Jane Wilson (1 Sep 1846–24 Jul 1926), Find a Grave Memorial ID 197824694, citing Fairview Cemetery, Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by The Lone Ranger (contributor 47228659).       

              

Daily Working Now!

 I am hanging in there with LegacyFamilyTree. There's a lot I don't like in it, and a lot that I do. One thing I find is that sources are harder in Legacy than in RM. I had given all my family Reference Numbers in RM, which is linked to my paper files. In Legacy they show on the main Family page. I love that!  So easy to find. Anyway, I am still at it. There is a really big learning curve here. Still so much to learn, but I am determined to continue. I started, back in the day of dinosaurs, on Family Tree Maker, back when it was by Broderbund. Yea, I'm that old! Then I got RootsMagic3. I stuck with that until now. It really takes a long time for a program to become easy.  But Legacy does have a lot more to it than RM. 

At WikiTree I've been getting my families up to snuff! I've been working on my Alexander line this month. In particular my Johns. LOL John H. Alexander (Alexander-2574) and his father John Henry Alexander (Alexander-24431). I've been primarily working on their children, and their families. One family I've lost myself in is the Wilsons. Louisa Alexander Wilson in particular. I've found so many articles about them. They lived in Brownstown, Indiana, a small town in southern Indiana. It had a wonderful newspaper back in the day. The Jackson County Banner. When I was young, I loved when mom picked one up while grocery shopping. It issued 2 times a week and was either mailed or you could get a copy at the store. It was local news. Really local and really news, about the inhabitants of the county. I would read every word. But papers were worth reading back in the day. Not worth the money now. Anyway, the Wilson family had a meat market and grocery store. I must find the way to add at least some of them to WikiTree. They really flesh out these people. I am loving it!

52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Week 35

Minnie Belle Wilson

Minnie Belle was the daughter of Ephraim Wilson and Louisa J. Alexander. Louisa was a sister of my great-grandfather, William Hays Alexander. Minnie was the only girl born to Louisa and Ephraim, among 5 children. She was born in Jackson County, Indiana, on March 6th, 1870.

I don't know much about her until she shows up with a son named Clyde. She was 19 when he was born and he took her name, Clyde Wilson. As I spoke of this in week 34 when I wrote about George Eisel. Minnie married George on November 11, 1896. Minnie was 26 years old, and Clyde was 7. From all written accounts, George treated Clyde as his own.

George died in 1923 and apparently left his business to Clyde. Minnie was living with him and his wife at the time of her death. Clyde continued with the Wilson Processing Plant, which was Wilson Meat Market when George died. It is my belief, only my belief, that Clyde took care of Minnie for the rest of her life.

Minnie died on March 12, 1950, at the home of her son. She was 80 years old.  Her Obituary below:

Jackson County Banner
March 15, 1950

Eisel-Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Eisel, 80, were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Zabel Funeral Home in Brownstown. She had died at the home of her son Clyde Wilson in Brownstown, at 6 a.m. Sunday.

Mr. John U. Phelps, pastor of the Brownstown Christian church was in charge of the service. Burial followed in the Fairview cemetery.

She was born in Jackson County on March 6, 1870, the daughter of Ephriam and Louisa Alexander Wilson, both of whom are deceased. She married George Eisel, who preceded her in death a few years ago, in Brownstown.

Mrs. Eisel was a life-long resident of this county. She was a member of the Brownstown Christian Church, where she had made many friends.

For the past nine months she had been ill in Brownstown. Surviving are her son, and a brother. Pirtle Wilson, also of Brownstown.


Source:
Jackson County Banner; Brownstown, Indiana; Wednesday, March 15, 1950; Page 1

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52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Week 34

George Eisel

Last week I wrote about Harry Wilson. George was Harry's step-grandfather. There is such tragedy in this family, I haven't been able to leave it, as of yet.

George was the son of John Eisel and Barbara Frederick. He was born on March 16, 1870, in Jackson County, Indiana. Both parents were born in Prussia, Germany.

On November 11, 1896, he married Minnie Belle Wilson. She had a son when they married named Clyde Wilson. He is always referred to as the step-son of George Eisel. Even Clyde's death certificate leaves the father line blank. I would think this would most likely indicate that Clyde was illegitimate. Whatever the circumstances of Clyde's birth, he seemed to be treated like a son to George by all accounts.

George owned a meat market in Brownstown, Indiana. He sold it about 1921, and tried his hand at farming. About 1923, he opened a new meat market, farming seemed to be over. I hate the part that comes next. George did not fare well, and his chaos seemed to be heading toward something bad. 

George died January 15, 1923, in Brownstown. This article will explain that, and seems to be the only death notice or obituary for him. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Brownstown, Indiana.

GEO. EISEL, AGED 52, COMMITS SUICIDE

Shot Himself Early Monday Morning At His Place Of Business

LIVED ABOUT FOUR HOURS

Despondency On Account Of Failing Health Supposed To Be The Cause.

George Eisel, aged 52, who has been engaged in the butchering business in Brownstown almost continuously for 25 or 30 years, committed suicide at his place of business early Monday morning by shooting himself in the head.

The discovery was made by Bruce Wilson, who worked for Mr. Eisel, when he started to work about 6:30 O'clock Monday morning. When he entered the middle room of the meat market just at the rear of the sales room. Bruce saw Mr. Eisel lying on the floor face downward, with blood flowing from a wound in the head. He was still breathing. A 22-calibre repeating rifle, which was used in killing live stock, was lying on a work bench just above where Mr. Eisel lay.

Mr Wilson went out and called Howard Fritz and together they went back and placed Mr. Eisel in a more comfortable position. In the meantime Dr. P. A. Zaring, who had been sent for, arrived and after a hasty examination pronounced the injury fatal.

Mr. Eisel lingered until almost nine o'clock when he breathed his last. It is supposed that he shot himself about 5:30 o'clock, as that was his usual time of going to work.

His horse and market wagon were hitched to the rack on the public square, just across the street from his place of business.

The hand and fingers of the left hand were powder-burned, also the hair around the wound, indicating that he had held the muzzle of the gun with his left hand against the side of his head, resting the stock of the gun on the work bench, and pulled the trigger with his right hand.

County Coroner Geo. Manuel, of Seymour, was called and held an inquest rendering a verdict of suicide in accordance with the above facts.

Despondency over fast-failing health is supposed to have been the cause of Mr. Eisel taking his life. Weighing something over 200 pounds a year ago, he had fallen off in flesh to probably 130 pounds. About a year ago he sold his meat market on Main street and went to farming, but several months ago he re-opened a new meat market on Walnut street, in Arthur Greger's room opposite the court house. 

Deceased was born in Hamilton township March 16, 1870, and was united in marriage to Minnie Wilson of Brownstown, November 11, 1896, who survives him. He also leaves two brothers, Adam, of Topeka, Kan., and Philip, of Kansas City, Mo., and one step-son, Clyde Wilson, of Brownstown.

Funeral services were conducted at his late house this afternoon at 2 o'clock, under the auspices of the Red Men lodge, Rev. C. H. Earenfight, pastor of the Christian church, officiating. Burial in Fairview cemetery.

The family seemed to  be followed by tragedy. Such a sad tale!

Source:
Jackson County Banner; Brownstown, Indiana; Wednesday, January 17, 1923; Page 1.

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52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Week 33

Harry C. Wilson

This time it will be a short post. Not because I have nothing to say, but because the life of Harry C. Wilson was cut short, tragically.

Harry was born on October 13, 1907 in Brownstown, Indiana. He was the first and only child of Clyde Wilson and Hattie Wilson.  He worked with his father at the family business, meat butchering. It sounds like an awful business, but someone has to do it, and this family was the butchers of the town and surrounding area up until sometime in the 1970's.

Harry died on September 13, 1924. He was 16 years and 11 months old. It was such a shock to run across the means of his death.

Here is the article announcing the tragic end:

Jackson County Banner
Brownstown, Indiana
Wednesday, September 17, 1924
Page 1

SQUIRREL HUNT ENDS IN SAD ACCIDENT

Harry Wilson, Aged 16, Fatally Shoots Himself While Returning Home From Hunt

EXPIRES IN THIRTY MINUTES

Was Trying to Knock Apple From Tree With Shot Gun, Holding Barrel in His Hands.

Harry Wilson, aged 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Wilson, of Brownstown, accidentally shot himself with fatal results Saturday morning about 9:30 o'clock while on his way home from a squirrel hunt. The entire charge of a No. 12 single-barrel shot-gun took effect in the right side of his chest, and he expired in about thirty minutes.

The young man, in company with Forrest Cockerham had gone squirrel hunting early that morning, in the vicinity of the Wegan church. When they decided to leave the woods, they discovered that they had become confused in directions and came out on the Wegan and Tampico road, near the residence of George Redicker.

They started walking west down the road and stopped under a small apple tree along the fence by the roadside, about 150 yards cast of the church. Both had knocked off an apple and the one Cockerham knocked off fell inside the fence. While he was climbing through the fence to get it he heard the report of Wilson's gun, and looking up saw that Harry has shot himself and blood near his shoulder. He asked where he was shot and the boy replied, "In the side, get a doctor." Cockerham began calling for help, and started across the field toward Mr. Rediker's house, when he was Harry fall to the ground.

Rev. W. H. Dau, pastor of the Wegan Lutheran church, heard the report of the gun and heard Cockerham's calls for help, and he ran to the scene arriving there within only two or three minutes. Cockerham seeing Rev. Dau coming also turned back, and both reached the scene within less than five minutes after the shooting by which time the boy had lapsed into unconsciousness.

By this time others in the vicinity began arriving, and word was telephoned to the boy's parents and to Dr. Ackerman, who reached there about ten minutes before the lad expired. His parents also reached there a few moments afterward.

Undertaker Frank Zabel was called and removed the body to town and prepared the remains for burial.

The load of shot took effect in Wilson's right chest near the shoulder blade and ranged almost directly downward. From all indications he was trying to knock off an apple with the butt end of his gun, holding the barrel in his hands. The probabilities are that he was punching upward at the apple to loosen it, when the hammer caught on a twig of the tree, discharging the gun. The apple still on the tree, showed several bruised places and a twig near it was broken.

As soon as life was extinct, Undertaker Frank Zabel was called and removed the body to town and prepared the remains for burial. Funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Bannister of the Baptist church at Seymour, officiating, followed by interment in Fairview cemetery.

Harry Wilson was a bright young student in the Brownstown high school, and would have been a Junior this year. He was a member of the basket ball squad last year and would have been on the regular team this year.

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