2genadmend3
SECOND GENERATION --STILSON/STILLSON
(Jacob I,. Simon Franklin 2,.)
II. SIMON FRANKLIN (or initial F. could stand for FREMONT or FOSTER) STILSON/STILLSON, the son of Jacob and Miranda (Taylor) Stilson/Stillson was b. July 4, /819 in Erie, Pennsylvania (or 1822?) and d. December 11, 1903 (at the home of his son James Ambrose Stilson, according to the obituary in the Jasper Journal), however Lucille Wagner believed he d. in 1906 or 1907, and is buried in Jasper, Minnesota. This family is a little varied and inconsistent on the spelling of their last name. In some instances it is with one L and other places it shows a double LL spelling. See Photo Album at end of text. Simon married Nancy Henson per their marriage certificate on June 8, 1845 in St. Joseph County, Indiana. They later moved to Minnesota and had nine more children. Information sent to us from one source lists Nancy Henson 's birth as September 1823, in Virginia. However, the 1850 census shows them in Center Twp., St. Joseph Co. and shows her as age 23 which makes a birthdate of 1827 in Virginia. This 1827 birthdate would correspond with the records of her death. She died at her home in Jasper on October 31, 1890, of cancer of the liver. At the time of her death she was aged 67 years, 1 month and 20 days. The newspaper reports that she had been a sufferer from this disease for the past three months, but up to three or four weeks ago hope of her recovery was strongly entertained by the family. The funeral was held at the school house and she was buried in the cemetery "north of town. " This cemetery was on Stilson land which Simon sold to the city of Jasper.
Lucille Stillson Wagner, (Lucille was the sister of Melvin Stillson, husband of Goldie Benser Stillson of Antioch, IL.) who was b. November 9, 1898 and is the granddaughter of Simon writes about him, "My grandfather Stillson was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch and English ancestry in the 1820's. He ran away from home when a young man. He spelled his name with only one "L. " In Virginia he met and later married Nancy Henson of two generations of English. They lived in South Bend, Indiana. They had four daughters. Gramp and John Studebaker, husband to Nancy's sister, went to the "Mother Lode" of Northern California in a covered wagon for gold. While he was gone, his daughters died of scarlet fever. He used his gold for two rings and a farm in Minnesota. Nancy Henson Stilson died at the age of 67. Simon then lived with Jim (son) on a farm in Minnesota, then with John (son) in Madison, S.D. (Lucille's home) then back to Jim 's where he died at the age of 85. Lucille also recalls that Nancy Henson had a brother John Henson who lived in South Bend, but never married. Nancy 's parents were John and Elizabeth Henson. They were originally Virginians before moving to South Bend.
A letter to Goldie Stillsonfrom the county clerk's office in South Bend, Indiana in 1986 writes that she located the marriage record for Simon Stillson and Nancy Henson. The Henson family, she notes, was a very early family in the area. In the 1850 census Index she noted that a John Henson was living next door to Simon and Nancy. John Henson, aged 50 was afarmer, born in Virginia about 1800 and m. about 1820-1830. His wife Elizabeth is age 45 years and her birthplace is Virginia. John Henson is noted in Lunenburg Co., Virginia in the 1830 census. Other children, all born in Indiana, living in the Henson household are Jane age 18, Mahala age 16, James A. age 12, Elizabeth age 10, George age 8, John age 6 and Rhoda age 3. By the time of the 1860 census, Simon and Nancy had moved to Minnesota. Elizabeth Henson has aged only 5 years over the course of the ten years and her husband is not listed as he d. January 28, 1851 and is buried in the Henson Cemetery. In 1880 Elizabeth is noted in the Chapman 's History of St. Joseph County, p. 75, among the aged persons in Center Twp. Page 671 of the same volume carries information on a Francis Donaghue who married Rosann Henson and had ten children. Simon is shown in the 1850 census for South Bend, Indiana with his wife Nancy Henson. The ages of Simon and Nancy and birthdates are incorrect. It shows Simon aged 28, born in Pennsylvania, Nancy aged 23, born in Virginia, Hannah aged 3 b. in Indiana, Emily A. aged 2 b. Indiana, Harriet E. aged 1/12 b. Indiana. The three little girls, Hannah, Emily and Harriete that were born in Indiana all died of scarlet fever while Simon was in California with his brother-in-law looking for gold --and he found some.
The 1865 Minnesota census shows Simon and Nancy and children Martha, Francis, John F., Mahala, Silas L. and James A. The Minnesota census taken in 1870 lists Simon Stilson aged 51 years, afarmer, Nancy aged 42 (actual age 46), Martha aged 15, Frank (Francis) aged 14, John F. aged 12, Mahala aged 10, Alice aged 9, James Ambrose aged 8 and Schyler Colfax aged 5. Daughter Fannie Grace was not yet born. Simon Stilson appears in the 1870 census of Fillmore County, Fountain Twp. Minnesota. He is listed as afarmer with property valued at $3,000. He was 51 years of age which would make his birth in 1819, which is probably incorrect. He married Nancy b. in 1823 in Virginia. They had possibly nine (ifincluding Silas), all born in Fountain Twp., Fillmore Co., MN. They
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all appear in the Minnesota 1870 census. Goldie Benser Stillson's research shows nine children born in Minnesota, and four girls born in Indiana, although Lucille says there were four little girls.
The Jasper Journal, Jasper, Minnesota carried the following mention of S.F. Stilson in the July 27, 1888 issue. "S.F. Stilson isjust completing one of the neatest residences to befound in Jasper. He spared no pains to make it warm and comfortable and believes in having things handily arranged for him and his wife in their old age. May they live long to enjoy it. "
Simon Stillson is shown in the 1900 census records. Birthdate is listed as July 1815, b. in Pennsylvania and a son James (Ambrose) that was born in 1862. Information provided by descendent Arnold F. Stillson's wife, Olive Stillson, who reports that Simon was a Justice of the Peace in Jasper, MN. Jasper is built on much of his farm. Also the cemetery is built on farmland he sold to the city .There is a Stilson Street in Jasper. Jasper is a pretty and friendly little town in southwestern Minnesota. She also reports that the spelling of Stilson/Stillson has been changed by this family many times from one 1 to two II 's and apparently Simon used the spelling both ways.
1. Hannah M., b. November 3, 1846 in Indiana, d. young of scarlet fever (recorded infamily bible) Per St. Joseph Co., IN 1850 census: Hannah age 3 years, Emily 2 years, Harriet I month of age.
2. Emily (Emma) Ann, b. June 30, 1848 in Indiana, d. young of scarlet fever (family bible)
3. Harriet E., b. May 27, 1850 in Indiana, d. young of scarlet fever (family bible)
Children Hannah, Emily, and Harriet E. died while their father Simon was gold mining in California with Mr.
Studebaker (of the "car" fame). There is a discrepancy in records as to whether daughter Cary also died at this time. Goldie reports that Cary or Caroline was b. 1853, 1854 in Indiana and d. young of scarlet fever along with the other sisters.
4. Martha Ellen or Ellin Stilson b. December 14, 1854, in Preston, Minnesota, m. John Vickerman of England on January 1, 1874. Martha is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA. John worked in the grain elevators in Ellsworth, MN.
George Vickerman, ran away with "Uncle Jim's " third wife, Gertie, and disappeared into another country, possibly Canada. It was quite afamily scandal! On the photograph of "Uncle Jim" and Gertie there is a note that Gertie ran off with "Uncle Jim's nephew, "the wild one." She left her baby with its father. Alta (May Nancy) Vickerman, b. May 21, 1880 in Jasper, MN, and d. June 11, 1965 in Whit tier, CA., buried in Glendale mausoleum. Alla m. Tom Williams who was b. in Wales. Tom came to the United States with his family at age 14. They lived in a sod house and claimed a farm near Ellsworth. He was a good farmer and was instrumental in forming one of the first banks in the city of Ellsworth. He kept his farming interest and moved to California. He became director of a bank in Long Beach. In 1927 Los Angeles became their home. At the age of 85 he passed away and is buried in the Forest Lawn Mausoleum at Glendale. Alla attended schools in Southwestern, Minnesota (Jasper and Ellsworth ?). At age 17 she married Tom Williams, a successful farmer and founding director and shareholder of the First National Bank of Ellsworth. A son, Thomas "Reese" Williams was born September 25, 1900. They had not been in Long Beach California long when a tragedy took the life of Reeses 's younger sister, Bernetta died from spinal meningitis. Alla 's husband took her to Paris. Granddaughter Olwen writes, "Nana was very proud of the fact that she had been to Europe. She loved to travel by train to Minnesota and as youngsters my brother or I would accompany her for a months stay during the summer. Her wish was that we would never sell the Minnesolafarms. My grandmother also wore a little gold nugget ring with a heart design that had been passed on to her. My father gave it to his Aunt Zelma, grandmother's sister. I guess my grandmother was so ashamed of her brother, George, that we were never told that he had even existed. See photo of Alla in Family Album chapter.
- Reese Williams, b. September 25, 1899 in Ellsworth, MNandd. December 16, 1968inLaHabra,
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- CA, he is buried in Long Beach, CA. Reese m. Megan Hughes b. January 17, 1900 in Wales. Reese graduated from Polytechnic High, Long Beach, CA. He attended Occidental College and sang professionally. He was in the Welsh Chorus in the Movie, "How Green Was My Valley. II He met Megan Hughes at the Welsh Presbyterian Church, L.A. where they both sang. They married November 17, 1939 and had two children. They moved to Dinuba, CA in 1949 where they built a new home on a small ranch. Aunt Zelma and Uncle Will lived next door. Grandmother Alta had a new house built on the other side a year or two later. Reese suffered a stroke in his 50's and then later Diabetes. They moved back to Southern California in 1949. Reese and Meghan had two children: Olwen b. December 2, 1940 and married Don Butler. They have daughter Valerie b. Apri113, 1965 and Sherry b. Apri114, 1963. They live in Modesto, CA. and Thomas Louis b. Apri19, 1942 m. Sue Everett and lives in Fresno, CA. They have son Robert b. July 5, 1967 and Bruce b. December 2, 1968.
Bernetta Williams, b. circa 1905, Ellsworth, MN and d. about 1910/1911 in Long Beach, CA of spinal meningitis.
Hazel Vickerman, b. in Southwestern, MN and married and lived in Vancouver, Canada and is buried there. She had one son Stuart, who was adopted by her second husband Charley Furney. They had a nice small grocery business. Stuart married and adopted a boy and a girl. Goldie saw them once in Dinuba. Zelma Vickerman b. 1889 in Southerwestern, (?Nobles Co.), MN lived in California and d. in 1982 at age 93 years. She m. Will Adden. She had a daughter Lucille who d. in 1983 of pneumonia who m. Henry Unruh(?). Lucille had 6 children, daughters Margie and "Lynn II (Zelma Susan Lynn), and sons Ken Ron, and Doug. Goldie Stillson says she also had a daughter Evelyn who m. Joe Eppick and had two sons Bill and Bobbie. Both boys married and had children. Bobbie d. very young of cancer, as his mother did before him. They lived in Milwaukie, Oregon.
4 or 5. ?Cary or Caroline b. 1853 in Indiana per Goldie Benser Stillson, d. unknown. It is unclear if this child died of scarlet fever with her sisters. Lucille Wagner writes in 1987 that only three daughters died of scarlet fever. Cary apparently died in Minnesota before 1865 as she is not shown on the census for 1865 or 1870. Her death is not included in bible with the other sisters who died of scarlet fever. According to the 1860 census records, Cary would have been born about 1855 and after Martha and before Francis. Per 1860 census, Martha was two years older than Cary.
6. Francis Marion "Frank" Stilson b. Apri122, 1856, in Minnesota, d. 1901. Lucille recalled that he had beautiful hands and loved to play cards. He was tall with dark brown eyes and brown hair and wore a derby hat, as they did in those days. He died of cancer of the stomach. (Another family member mentioned that he was a gambler, perhaps another way of stating that he played cards!) Pictured on the cover of this family history. A photograph of Frank and his brothers appears in the Family Photo section of this book. He had a daughter: Frances "Fannie" died at age 22 ofpneumonia. She was a professional high diver and swimmer. There is a sister of Fannie is noted as being in a photograph. It lists Uncle Frank's daughters Fannie and _.
7. John Fremont Stilson b. September 11, 1857 in MN., d. 1927, m. Mary Caroline Stroh. Mary came from Germany at the age of 12, she was b. December 16, 1870 and d. August 1966. See Family Photo Album. See Generation III.
8. Mahala Isabella Stilson b. May 28, 1859 in MN. , m. Thomas J. Vickerman of England, brother of John. (He may have been born in Canada.) Thomas Vickerman 's parents were both born in England. He is shown as being afarmer and a Robert M.F. Spooner living with the family is called a partner. They had children: Bertha D. b. January 1879, Rubin S. b. August 1883, Purl b. November 1885 (he was called P.G.), Myrtle D. b. May 1889 and Goldie b. March 1897. Simon Stilson, Mahala 's father, is shown in 1900 as living with them as well. Thomas Vickerman (Stutz car). Mahala and Goldie lived in Alexandria, MN. and after Tom died they moved to Oregon. A photograph of Mahala appears in the Family Photo Album at the end of this history.
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9. Louisa Alice Stilson b. January 20 or 30, 1861 in MN., m. 1) Forrest Wenslow, 2) O.D. Welliver. She died of cancer and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Los Angeles. The family lived in Sioux City for many years. A photograph of Alice with her family can be found in the Family Photo Album at the end of this history. Alice and Forrest Wenslow had children: Jessie b. unknown. Laura who m. 1) David Williams of Hibbing, MN. and later lived in Los Angeles, CA and 2) Bert Shepard. Laura and David had a son Everett Williams. Laura is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, CA. Alice and O.D. Welliver had children: Ira, who was a lawyer in Denver, Colorado, died of a burst appendix two months after his marriage. Mary, who m. 1) Albert Farrell and 2) Fred Casabian and had a son Lowell. Lowell was assistant to John Ford in movies such as "Since you Went Away" with Lionel Barrymore. Lowell married Margerie -and had one daughter Valerie. Lowell died of Cirrhosis of the liver when about age 50 and was buried in Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA.
10. James Ambrose Stilson b. December 16, 1862 in Fountain, MN. d. November 11, 1913 in Sully Springs, N.D. See Family Photo Album, the last section of this history. See Generation III.
11. ? Silas b. 1864 per 1865 Minnesota census which indicates a child Silas L. b. 1864 in Minnesota. Olive Stillson explains that this was the census takers version of Alice, but Alice was b. in 1861. Lucille Wagner stated that there was no child named Silas.
11. Schuyler Colfax Stilson b. July 16, 1866, Fountain Twp., Jefferson, Minnesota. See Family Photo Album at the back of this history. See Generation III.
12. Fannie Grace b. September 26, 1877 in Minnesota and died as a child.
Research and photographs provided by Goldie Benser Stillson, Olwen Butler and Olive Stillson.
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LAST UPDATED: Oct. 14, 2000 © by Margaret Lee
