#Wilson

Mom's adoption story taught me that every trial happens for a reason

By JEFF KIDD

Oct 24, 2017
9 min

Mom's adoption story taught me that every trial happens for a reason

I suppose that when you come right down to it, the story of how I became Linda Kidd's son explains everything about me that is worth knowing. It has shaped my reverence for family, informed my belief in the sanctity of life, and convinced me that to be good, one must also be optimistic and faithful. Indeed, my adoption is the central fact of my life, and it has been for as long as I can remember. Every night as she tucked me in, Mom described how she and Dad brought me home f

805 views0 comments

The improbable, fantastic, (somewhat) true life of Jilson Setters

Jeff Kidd

Mar 29, 2016
4 min

The improbable, fantastic, (somewhat) true life of Jilson Setters

“In a windowless cabin, hidden away in a high cranny of the Kentucky mountains, lived Jilson Setters, who, for all his sixty-five years, had never seen a railroad. Neither had he heard a phonograph nor a radio. His home-made fiddle and his ‘ballets’ were good enough for Jilson Setters and mountain folk.” “The Last Minstrel” by Jean Thomas, The English Journal, Dec. 1928 Bill Day's musical career was launched on fiction, but what followed was far more strange: A blind man made

173 views0 comments

thatsbug2u

Nov 21, 2015
4 min

Family cookbook aims to explain how folks of modest means ate like kings

My Uncle Kenny Wilson is fond of saying that, until someone told him otherwise, he never realized he grew up poor. "I figure there were a lot of folks who'd like to be that poor and eat that good," he says, referring to the bounty the Wilsons provided for themselves on their homeplace in Rowan County, Ky. Corn. Potatoes. Green beans. Rhubarb. Rusty-coat apples. These and at least a dozen other fruits and vegetables were grown on the mountain ridge that my great-great uncle, L

24 views0 comments

Murder victim, self-made mechanic among those in my family tree with birthdays week of Nov. 16

thatsbug2u

Nov 14, 2015
7 min

Murder victim, self-made mechanic among those in my family tree with birthdays week of Nov. 16

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Nov. 16: Nov. 16 Nancy Davis Wilson, (my 5G aunt-in-law on my mother's side) b. 1804 in Kentucky; d. May 20, 1879, in Madison Lake, Madison County, Ohio. Nancy married Daniel Wilson, brother of my 4G grandfather Jeremiah Wilson, on March 1, 1822. I don't know a lot about Nancy, but Daniel Wilson was a botanic physician — a doctor whose practice is based mostly on herbs and roots. He settled in Somerford, Madison, Ky., in 1837. Dan

88 views0 comments

Twins who married twins ... and had twin brothers ... among those in my family tree with birthdays w

thatsbug2u

Nov 7, 2015
7 min

Twins who married twins ... and had twin brothers ... among those in my family tree with birthdays w

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Nov. 9: Nov. 9 Samuel Webb Caudill and Sarah Maggard Caudill, his wife. Sarah Maggard Caudill, (my 4G grandmother on my mother's side), b. 1809 in Letcher County, Ky.; d. Jan. 18, 1898, in Rowan County, Ky. Sarah married Samuel Webb Caudill in Perry County, Ky., in 1825. She was 16. Sarah was born in Letcher County, where the Caudills settled after moving from Wilkes County, N.C. The Caudills had large families, and over time many

430 views0 comments

Happy birthday to the best mom a little orphan boy could have asked for

thatsbug2u

Oct 24, 2015
6 min

Happy birthday to the best mom a little orphan boy could have asked for

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Oct. 26: Oct. 26 Nancy Frances Wilson Williamson, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1840 in Somerford, Madison County, Ohio; d. Nov. 30, 1912. I've expounded at some length upon Valentine Wilson, who seems to come up in each week's report because, well, he had 19 children by three wives, and even more land and money. Nancy was one of them. The children, that is. She was the youngest of the nine children

70 views0 comments

Several children of a prominent relative celebrated October birthdays ... and died young

thatsbug2u

Oct 17, 2015
5 min

Several children of a prominent relative celebrated October birthdays ... and died young

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Oct. 19: Oct. 19 John Wilson, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1910 in Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio; d. Dec. 28, 1868, in Madison County, Ohio. John was the son of wealthy landowner Valentine Wilson and his first wife, Elanor Judy. Valentine had six children by Judy, nine by his second wife Nancy Donnels Roberts, and four by his third wife Susan Humble. That's right — John had five siblings and 1

21 views0 comments

My great-grandfather, several members of prominent Ohio family — all Wilsons — among family-tree bir

thatsbug2u

Oct 10, 2015
6 min

My great-grandfather, several members of prominent Ohio family — all Wilsons — among family-tree bir

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Oct. 12: Oct. 12 Matilda Wilson, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1814 in Madison County, Ohio; d. March 21, 1890, in Madison County, Ohio. Matilda was one of six children of Valentine Wilson and the second of his three wives, Elanore Judy Wilson. Valentine was one of the wealthiest landowners of his region of Ohio. He married three times — his first two wives died — and had children by all of his wive

15 views0 comments

Great uncle among those in my family tree with birthdays week of Oct. 5

thatsbug2u

Oct 4, 2015
3 min

Great uncle among those in my family tree with birthdays week of Oct. 5

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Oct. 5: Oct. 5 Mary Abigail Banks Quesenberry, (wife of Andrew Quesenberry, my 3G uncle on my mother's side) b. 1819 in Grayson, Va.; d. March 5, 1907, in Carroll County, Va. Mary married Andrew, who was the brother of my 2G grandmother Nancy Abigail Quesenberry Hall. Troy J. Kidd, (my first cousin once removed on my father's side) b. 1926 in Morgan County, Ky.; d. May 28, 1980, in Fairborn, Greene County, Ohio. Troy was the nephe

44 views0 comments

Prolific moonshiner, wealthy Ohio landowner among those in family tree with birthdays this week

thatsbug2u

Sep 26, 2015
9 min

Prolific moonshiner, wealthy Ohio landowner among those in family tree with birthdays this week

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Sept. 28: Sept. 28 Myrtle Kidd, (my first cousin once removed on my father's side), b. 1917 in Rowan County, Ky.; details of death uncertain. Myrtle is the daughter of John William Kidd and Dora Kidd Kidd. Dora was the sister of my grandfather Elmer Kidd. Dora and John shared a surname and were second cousins. Sept. 29 Martha Susan Hall, (my first cousin four times removed on my mother's side), b. 1854 in Morgan County, Ky.; d. 19

54 views0 comments

Mystery relative(?) is among those in my family tree with birthdays this week

thatsbug2u

Sep 19, 2015
10 min

Mystery relative(?) is among those in my family tree with birthdays this week

Birthdays in my family tree from the week of Sept. 21: Sept. 21 Anna Martin, (my 4G grandmother on my mother's side), b. 1801 in Morgan (now Rowan) County, Ky.; d. June 1870 in Morgan County, Ky. One of the more interesting stories I've plucked from my family tree concerns Anna and her family. According to the 1870 census, she was widowed and living with her son, John Martin. Not an uncommon circumstance, then or now, right? But there's far more to the story. Anna was living

37 views0 comments

Uncle Trace among many Lamberts in my family tree with birthdays this week

thatsbug2u

Sep 12, 2015
8 min

Uncle Trace among many Lamberts in my family tree with birthdays this week

Birthdays in my family tree for the week of Sept. 14: Sept. 14 Wayne Monroe Wilson, (my second cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1901 in Kentucky; I have no details about his death. Wayne's parents are William Monroe Wilson (1865-1908) and Ella Byron Wilson. His father died when he was just 7. Our common direct ancestors are Isaac Wilson and Theodocia Lee Wilson, my 4-G grandparents and his great-grandparents. Elaine Rose Pucko Thomas, (wife of Billy Ray Tho

17 views0 comments

My papaw, presidential namesakes among those in family tree with birthdays week of Sept. 7

thatsbug2u

Sep 5, 2015
10 min

My papaw, presidential namesakes among those in family tree with birthdays week of Sept. 7

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Sept. 7: Sept. 7 Washington Wilson, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1821 in Madison County, Ohio; d. Oct. 20, 1888, in Madison County, Ohio. Washington was the son of Valentine Wilson and the second of his three wives, Susan Humble Wilson. Valentine became a well-to-do landowner in Ohio after moving with his family from Virginia to Kentucky and then Kentucky to Madison County. Washington had three sib

55 views0 comments

Fondly remembered 2nd cousin and his mother among those with birthdays week of Aug. 31

thatsbug2u

Aug 29, 2015
5 min

Fondly remembered 2nd cousin and his mother among those with birthdays week of Aug. 31

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 31: Aug. 31 Clarence Wills, (my second cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1900 in Kentucky; d. Oct. 27, 1988, in Montgomery County, Ky. Clarence was the son of James Monroe Wills and Leonora Sanders Wilson Wills. Our common ancestors were Isaac Wilson and Theodocia Lee Wilson, my 4G grandparents and Clarence's 2G grandparents. Theodocia, incidentally, was the daughter of Major Burwell Lee of the prominent Lee

38 views0 comments

Sailor who died in Normandy Invasion, wife's grandfather among those in family tree with birthda

thatsbug2u

Aug 22, 2015
8 min

Sailor who died in Normandy Invasion, wife's grandfather among those in family tree with birthda

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 24: Aug. 24 Addie B. Hall, (my first cousin four times removed on my mother's side), b. 1874 in Robertson, Ky.; d. November 1875. Addie was the daughter and one of nine children of James Edmund Hall and Elizabeth Jane Coyle Hall. Archibald B. McBrayer, (my first cousin twice removed on my father's side), b. 1883 in Wagner, Rowan County, Ky.; d. Sept. 30, 1910, in Rowan County, Ky. Archibald was one of eight children and six s

64 views0 comments

Family-tree birthdays this week: (Much) younger second wife of noted country doctor

thatsbug2u

Aug 15, 2015
4 min

Family-tree birthdays this week: (Much) younger second wife of noted country doctor

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 17: Aug. 17 Dana Carol Trent, (my second cousin on my mother's side). Happy birthday, Dana. Hope you have a great day. Aug. 18 Millard Lambert, (my second cousin twice removed on my father's side and my fourth cousin twice removed on my mother's side) b. 1908 in Elliott County, Ky.; d. Sept. 27, 1913, in Elliott County, Ky. Millard was the son of Edward "Edd" Lambert and his first wife, Pearl Belle Lowe Lambert. I do not know

10 views0 comments

Irish immigrant, accused murder conspirators among family-tree birthdays for week of Aug. 10

thatsbug2u

Aug 8, 2015
11 min

Irish immigrant, accused murder conspirators among family-tree birthdays for week of Aug. 10

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 10: Aug. 10 William M. Wilson Jr., (my second cousin four times removed on my mother's side), b. 1841 in Madison County, Ohio; d. uncertain. William was a grandson of Valentine Wilson, a well-to-do landowner in Ohio during the early- to late-1800s. William was the son of William Delano Wilson and Nancy Moore Wilson. Simpson Thornsberry, center, is photographed with his wife, Amanda Kidd, and his son, William Thornsberry. I'm

187 views0 comments

thatsbug2u

Aug 1, 2015
6 min

Wife of murder victim, German immigrant among those in family tree with birthdays week of Aug. 3

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 3: Aug. 4 Melvina Manerva Catron Lambert, (my 3G aunt-in-law on my mother's side), b. 1842 in Wythe County, Va.; d. Aug. 11, 1876 in Moccasin Precinct, Elliott County, Ky. Melvina married Elias Lambert, who died in 1926 in Rowan County, Ky., at age 89. My paternal grandmother was a Lambert and likely a relative of Elias, but I've not established the connection. Rather, Melvina is the grandmother of Alexander Lambert, who marr

15 views0 comments

Grievous turn ended life of one family member who celebrated a birthday week of July 20

thatsbug2u

Jul 18, 2015
5 min

Grievous turn ended life of one family member who celebrated a birthday week of July 20

Birthdays from my family tree from the week of July 20: July 20 Dudley Boone Wilson, (my 3G uncle on my mother's side), b. 1865 in the Narrows, Rowan County, Ky.; d. Dec. 31, 1906, in Montgomery County, Ky. Dudley was born to Isaiah Wilson and Sarah Jane Wilson Wilson. His given name was Isaiah — he appears in the 1870 census report as "Isah," age 4, and several other genealogical sources say he was born Isaiah Jr. At some point, he changed his name, however. He was one of 14

29 views0 comments

In-law who lost hand to sawmill, possible triplets among family-tree birthdays for week of July 6

thatsbug2u

Jul 4, 2015
7 min

In-law who lost hand to sawmill, possible triplets among family-tree birthdays for week of July 6

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of July 6: July 6 Martha Ann Black Trent (grandmother-in-law of Allie Wilburn Williams, my great uncle on my mother's side), b. 1877 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. April 8, 1949, in Rowan County, Ky. Among the children of Martha Ann and husband Julius Ceasar Trent (cool name, huh?) was Theodore Trent. (Juluis and Martha Ann are pictured at left.) And among the children of Theodore and his wife, Clara Essie Conn Trent, was Geneva Trent Will

63 views1 comment