James W. Wilson

---

      Sex: M

---

Individual Information

---

     Birth Date: Abt 1850 - Florida or Cuba
    Christening: 
          Death: 20 Aug 1909 - San Francisco, California, USA
         Burial: 
 Cause of Death: atrophic hepatic cirrhosis

---

Parents

---

         Father: Charles S. Wilson
         Mother: Lila Lamb

---

Spouses and Children

---

1. *Mildred Adelaide Connelly
       Marriage: 14 Oct 1877 - Red Bluff, Tehama, California, USA
       Children:
                1. Fred L. Wilson
                2. Laura B. Wilson
                3. Viola Wilson

---

Notes

---

General:

Per 1880 US Census: 6/14/1880, Natoma and Granite Townships, Sacramento County, California
Walter Wilson is a 30 year old white male, employed as a brick maker, unemployed 4 months this year. Born in Florida, his father in Indiana, his mother in South Carolina. His wife, 22 year old M. A. Wilson, keeps house, and was born in Illinois, her father in Indiana, her mother in Maryland. Their 2 year old son, F. L. Wilson, was born in California.

Death Certificate Repository: California Department of Health Services
Name: James Wilson Death Certificate
Author: California State Department of Vital Records
California Department of Health Services
Citation Detail: # 9-020797
Date: 20 Aug 1909
Notes: b. Cuba; father Charles S. Wilson; mother Lila Lamb

Per Judi Shellenbarger
" James Wilson's Mysterious Background
Added by JShellenbarger on 17 Nov 2007

I do not have much information about James Wilson. He did not support his family and left the family home when the children were young. Census records of his birth vary from Florida to Cuba and birthdates vary from 1839 to 1850. I realize the census records are only as good as the reporter, but this seems to be a very wide discrepance. The family told stories that he was born in Cuba and was related to a wealthy Latin beauty. This was an explanation of the dark complexion of his grandchildren. His death certificate lists him as born in Cuba in 1839 and his death from atrophic hepatic cirrhosis in San Francisco on August 20, 1909. He is also listed as a widower, however his wife died October 21, 1927.

A tricky fellow to trace. He often changed his name: James, J.W., Waller, Walter, etc. He left his wife, son, and daughters. His death certificate lists him as a widower, but his wife out lived him by 20 years. He is a puzzlement to me.

His daughter, Gloriabelle, often told the story that he was from a family that worked in the foreign service. His father was an ambassador to Cuba who married a latin beauty. But looking at his death certificate shows his mother to have been born in Kentucky. Who knows?? It is an area I continue to research.

1880 I find him on the census in the Natoma area of Sacramento County. He lived in an area populated by lots of Chinese families. In later years Gloria, his daughter, would seek out Chinese medicines for various health problems, (including abortions). He is living with his wife, Mildred (22), and son, Fred (age 1). He lists his birthplace as Florida, age 30 and father born in Indiana and mother born in South Carolina.

In 1889 there is a James W. Wilson in the San Francisco Directory a horseshoer, 2208 Harrison Street.

Died in San Francisco of Atrophic Hepatic Cirrhosis. His Obituary in the San Francisco Examiner, 21 August 1909: Wilson, In this city, August 20, James Wilson, a native of Cuba, aged 70 years. This date is supported by the family bible.

He sometimes lists his birthplace as Cuba, other times Florida. It depends on the census or ?? Sometimes his age fluctuates 10 years. In 1880 he is 30, so born around 1850. This death listing is confirmed by the family bible and would make his birth around 1839.

The Great Registry of California lists the following information:

Wilson, James Waller age 40 from Florida, laborer, 2420 Post, Registered 15 Oct. 1890, 42nd Assembly District, 18th Precinct

Wilson James Waller age 42, Illinois, Bricklayer, 946 Harrison, Register date 22 Aug. 1892, 30th Assembly District, 14th Precinct

Wilson James Waller, age 46 Brickmaker, 565 Stevenson, Register date 25 July, 1896, 30th Assembly District, 3rd Precinct."