Wilson Family

The Wilson family came to Arkansas in 1845 and to Marion County in 1849. Isaac C. Wilson was born in North Carolina in 1814. His parents were James and Celia (Askew) Wilson. His wife was Martha, the daughter of Simeon Burleson. They came from their native state by wagon train. Joseph Burleson, brother of Martha, was a lad of 16 when he came with this group. He promised the wagon master that if he were provided with ammunition, he would go ahead of the train and kill all the wild game they needed. Since there was an abundance of deer, turkey, and wild animals, there was plenty of food for all.

I. C. and Martha Wilson were the parents of Dr. W. C. Wilson, Mary Eliza, Evalina, Sophronia (Rachel), Masoria (Sue), and James B.

Dr. W. C. Wilson and his wife, Matilda Blaylock Wilson, were the parents of Charles, Nell, Rena, D. G., Ed, and Al. Charles married Fannie, the daughter of Captain A. G. Cravens, known as (Daddy) Cravens. They were the parents of William Albert and Edith (Mrs. Marvin Shaw). Nell married M. J. Russell, a prominent educator. Rena married a Mr. Brock and lived in Conway, Arkansas. The names of the wives of D. G., Ed, and Al are not known.

Mary Eliza Wilson married James H. Berry. Their children were: Martha Helen, wife of John S. Cowdrey; Belle, who married Jenks Griffin; and Harriet, who died while young.

Evalina married G. W. Hensley. Their son, Roscoe, was the father of Maud and Myrtle. Maud married Guy Noe and later Berry Floyd. Her children are Myrtle Madeline Noe Carson and Virginia Floyd. The other son, Rack, was the father of Virgie.

Sophronia (Rachel) married G. W. McDowell. Their children were: Hallie; Lillie; and Maud. Hallie married Neal Dodd and they were the parents of Alma, wife of Gus Young; Lura, who married Oscar McCarty; and Lena, who married a Stevenson. Lillie McDowell married De Roos Bailey and Maud was the wife of R. F. (Pulley) Bond.

Masoria (Sue) married A. S. Layton. They were the parents of Edna, Virginia, Flora, Walter E., Lon H., and Willie. Edna married J. C. (Cam) Berry, Virginia married Dr. Walton, and Flora was the wife of Frank Pace. Walter's first wife was Neville Covert and his second wife was Blanche Holbert. Lon H. married Helen Walden and Willie was the wife of Grover James.

James B. Wilson married Sadie Layton. Children were: Myrtle; Jerome; Marvin; May; and Fred. Myrtle married Scott Teagarden; Jerome married Virgie Patterson; Marvin married Effie Weast; May married James C. Perkins.

Martha, the wife of Isaac C. Wilson, died in 1875 and Mr. Wilson married Lydia Stover Layton, the widow of Lycurgus Layton, who was killed during the Civil War.

Elisha Wilson was a cousin of I. C. Wilson. Both Elisha and his wife Agness were born in 1818 in North Carolina. Cyrus Wilson, son of Elisha and Agness, was born in Arkansas in 1847. He and his wife, Martha Jane Laramore, were the parents of John T.; Dora Belle; and Edward Kelse. Martha Jane was the daughter of Dicie, daughter of George and Nancy (Coker) Wood.

The children of John T. and his wife, Resse Young Wilson, were: Ernie; Georgia; Russell; and Raymond. The children of Dora Belle and William J. Patterson were: Roy Wilson, who married Alice Brown; Lena, wife of Clay C. Nowlin; Willie, who married Arthur McVey and later L. T. Rice; Reta, who died young; Jeff, who married Ruby Jones and later Rubv Billings; and Huldah, who married Marvin Melton. Kelse married Marge Willard. They were the parents of Harvey, Coleman, Sam, Ruby and Kelse.