JACKSON COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
WILSON
Ephriam Wilson was born in 1846 to John A. and Wilmouth Smallwood
Wilson. He served with Co. G. 54th Regiment and Co. C. 137th
Regiment in the Civil War. In 1867 he married Louise J. Alexander
and they lived in Ewing, IN. He was a stock buyer and had stock yards
in Ewing, Jackson County. His brother, Tip Wilson, had a butcher
shop in Ewing. Ephriam's granddaughter, Gertrude, enjoyed
watching her grandfather and father take the animals through the shutes.
Ephriam and Louise Wilson had five children Minnie, Oraland, Dillard,
Pirtle, and Willard. They were all born and raised in
Ewing. Oraland had meat store in Bedford; Pirtle was a
meat-cutter in Indianapolis; and Willard had a meat and grocery store
in Brownstown.
Willard joined the army and fought in the Spanish-American War.
When he returned home, he was married to Emma Pearl Cockerham on
October 2, 1898. They had ten children, three having died in
infancy; Mildred, Mabel, Edgar, Gertrude, Hollis, Woodrow, and
Louise. Louise died at age 1.
Willard's family lived at Shieldstown for a short time, where he had a
grocery store. Returning to Brownstown, he had a grocery and meat
store. His daughter, Gertrude, helped as a meat-cutter. He
drove a horse-drawn meat wagon around town making deliveries. He
also drove the school-hack to the Durland school.
Willard was always one to help, especially during the 1930's depression
years. He gave food to the needy and never refused credit to
anyone.
The children of Willard and Pearl all grew up and married in
Brownstown. Mildred married Silas Kaiken, later married Albert
Doell; she died in 1986. Mabel married William Toppe; she
survives. Edgar married Junita Hatton; he died in 1970. Gertrude
married Chester Holeman; she still survives. Hollis married
Evelyn Heller; he died in 1964. Woodrow married Dorothy Schyeor;
he died in 1986. Louisa died in 1919.
(Contributed by James D. VanDerMark jdvandermark@alumni.indiana.edu)
JAMES McCORY
JAMES MCCORY, of Owens Township, is a
native of Oneida County, New York, and was born June 24, 1808, being
the third son of Clement and Abigail (MUDGE) McCORY. The parents were
also natives of New York and were of Scotch-Irish and Dutch descent.
They came to Clark County, Indiana in 1818, and remained there the
balance of their lives. Mahala SCOTT, a native of Kentucky, born June
27, 1810 became his wife January 7, 1830. The result of this unison is
a family of nine children; only Elizabeth, Isabelle, Abigail and Louisa
now living. Mr. McCORY has been a citizen of Jackson County about fifty
years, and is now one of its oldest and most respected men. He lives on
the land he bought from the Government and which he has cleared. When
he first located here the wolves were yet so thick that sheep had to be
penned up nights for protection. His early education was limited, but
my much reading he has acquired a good general knowledge. He has led a
life of temperance, having never been drunk nor used tobacco in any
form. He has always been a Democrat and voted for Jackson at his first
term, to whom he was formally introduced at the steamer Triton en route
to New Orleans. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCORY are prominent members of the
Christian Church and have been such for several years.
Source: History of Jackson County,
Indiana, 1886
Contributed by: Darlene Anderson
