The 2014 Wilson, Greer and Associated Families Forum 5

by Glenn N. Holliman

 In July 2014 a number of descendants of Greers, Wilsons and Osbornes gathered in Boone, North Carolina to share and learn more about their ancestors who had braved in the late 1700s the wilds of the southwestern Virginia and northwestern mountains of North Carolina.  Here are some photographs and lineages of those in attendance.  Any errors belong to this writer, and I welcome corrections and additions. - GNH

 Left, Gloria Wilson Heimburger and her husband, Wilbur, drove down from Illinois to attend the opening dinner.  Gloria is the daughter of Boyd (1911-1972) and Lexie Lawrence Wilson (1912-1982), grand daughter of Arlie G. (1885-1956) and Bessie Wilson (1887-1976), who was a daughter of John (1855-1928) and Rebecca Wilson (1862-1952). 

 Therefore, Gloria is of the generation of whom Isaac (1822-1864) and Caroline Greer Wilson (1828-1911) are great, great grandparents.

Right, back row, left to right: Gloria Wilson Heimburger as a young teenager with Robert Wilson, Lexie Wilson and Boyd Wilson. Front row kneeling: William 'Bill' Wilson and Ann Wilson Trivette.  This picture was taken on the 4th of July, 1950 at the Wilson farm.  Sadly Bob Wilson died on August 16, 1950 of leukemia, a few weeks short of his 18th birthday.
Photograph courtesy of Gloria W. Heimburger.

Below, a year later in 1951, Rebecca Wilson's surviving children met a year before Becky's death in Sutherland, North Carolina. Left to right sitting Conley (1882-1959), Rebecca and Bessie (Gloria's grandmother).  Standing left to right are Mayme (1892-1975), Preston (1900-1989), Robert (1906-1987, Ruth (1903-1999, Cal (1898-1999), 'Meg' Margaret 'Maggie' (1894-1992) , Don (1890-1975) and Minnie (1896-1997). Picture courtesy of Shirley Sorrell.

 Next posting, more on the lineages of those who attended the July 2014 gathering in Boone, North Carolina.

All are invited to join in building the family tree at Wilson-Greer-Osborne-Forrester-Donnelly and Associated Families of Western NC at Ancestry.com.  Just write to glennhistory@gmail.com for an invitation.

From the Scrapbook of Shirley Sorrell 7

by Glenn N. Holliman


The sun was shining brightly on a September's day in Wilson Cove in Sutherland, Ashe County, North Carolina in 1935 when this picture of John and Rebecca Wilson Wilson's descendants was taken.  Shirley Sorrell has saved this and other photographs and has identified these family members. 

Below, the grandchildren of John and Rebecca.

Below are the son-in-laws of John and Rebecca Wilson. Front row, left to right are Earl Donnelly married to Mayme and Shirley Hurt, wed to Ruth.  Back row, left to right are Chall Osborne married to Minnie, William Wilson married to Cal,  Bower Duncan wed to Margaret (Maggie) and Arlie Wilson whose wife was Bessie.

When one analyzes the occupations of the son-in-laws, we begin to see the increasing economic diversity of the North Carolina highlands.  Several had moved to medium size cities for employment.  Two had become educators.  Only one remained a farmer in this generation.

Earl Donnelly was a hardware store salesman.  Shirley Hurt was a paint company salesman in Greensboro, NC and did landscaping. Chall Osborne was a farmer in Ashe County although he and Minnie had gone out west to tend sheep. William Wilson married his first cousin Cal.  He graduated from Trinity College (now Duke), class of 1914.  He served in the U.S. Army and worked for Liggett and Myers Tobacco in Durham from 1920 to 1959.  His father was the Methodist missionary to Japan who wrote the Wilson family memoirs of the violent 1860s. Bower Duncan served as a teacher principal and superintendent in Ashe County schools.  He attended Appalachian and Wake Forest, served in World War I and as a magistrate for many years.  

Arlie Wilson ran a store in Mabel community, and taught in Watauga and Wilkes county schools.  He and Bessie later moved in with Rebecca Wilson Wilson to care for her.

 In 1935, the U.S. Congress passed the Social Security Act ensuring retirement benefits to older Americans.  The descendants of John and Rebecca Wilson Wilson, unlike Rebecca, would be able to live their senior years more independently.

Below, a picnic at the reunion.  Shirley Sorrell has identified several of the persons as Deronda Donnelly, Ernest Wilson,  Don Wilson, Becky Donnelly and Geraldine Wilson in the middle of the photograph.  Additional identifications welcome.

 We invite you to rediscover your heritage at a Wilson, Greer, Wilcoxson, Osborne, Forrester, Adams and other families Forum, Saturday, 9:30 am, July 19, 2014 in the community room of the Boone, North Carolina public library.  Sunday, July 20th is also the annual Wilson Homecoming at Sutherland United Methodist Church in Ashe County.  The Family Forum begins at the Rustica Restaurant, Boone, NC. 6 pm, July 18th.  Email glennhistory@gmail.com for reservations, please.

 For details and schedule on the above event, contact glennhistory@gmail.com.  Isaac and Caroline Greer Wilson are great, great grandparents of this writer.