Wilhite, Baker, Cott
1A2F1A - Elias (James, Rueben, Conrad, Tobias, Michael) Wilhite, b. April
20,1816, Coopers Fort, Howard Co, MO; d. Jan 14, 1868, Saline Co,
Mo.; buried Mt. Horeb Cemetery; m. Nov 10,1835 Nancy Baker, b.
Jan 13, 1814, NC, daughter of Morris and Sarah Coonce Baker; d.
Sept 25, 1858; children:
1A2F1A1 - Mary Jane, b. Oct 17, 1836, Saline Co, MO; d. April 26, 1820,
Okmulgee, Ok; m. Oct 12, 1857 Jackson Washington Cott; 2
children;
1A2F1A2 - James Montgomery, b. Feb 13, 1838, Saline Co, Mo; d. Aug
25 or 26, 1907, Saline Co, MO; m. March 28, 1861 Elizabeth
Jane Ford; children:
1A2F1A2A - Minnie B., d. July 29, 1891; m. W.P. Willis; 2
children: Leroy and Ota;
1A2F1A2B - Dora, m. R.J. Flippin;
1A2F1A2C - James A., b. Oct 29, 1864; d. Sept 19, 1891; m.
Elizabeth Trimble; 2 daughter: Mabel and Marietta;
1A2F1A2D - William Elmer, b. 1866; d. 1905; m. Minerva G. ___
b. 1872; d. 1965;
1A2F1A2E - David E., b. Aug 19, 1871; d. Dec 29, 1872;
1A2F1A2F - Amelia A., m. C.B. Bennington;
1A2F1A2G - Samuel, b. May 20, 1875; d. Feb 18, 1877;
1A2F1A2H - Mertie E., b. Aug, 1873; d. Sept 28, 1878;
1A2F1A3 - Charity Frances, b. April 11, 1841, Saline Co, MO; d. 1908,
Saline Co, MO; m. (1) Andrew Jackson; children:
1A2F1A3A - Nannie Wilhite, b. Dec 21, 1860; d. 1935: m. Joe
Kelly, 1863-1943;
1A2F1A3B - William A., b. Dec 28, 1864; d. 1884; m. (2) Feb
21, 1869 Amos Wood Cott; children:
1A2F1A3C - Mary Laura Novella, b. Feb 17, 1870; d. Jan 30, 1894
d. Jan 30, 1894; m. Oscar Jones; children:
Jesse Wood, b. 1887; Walter Earl, b. 1890
William Arthur, b. 1892;
1A2F1A3D - Calvin Kennette, b. March 7, 1872; d. Dec 19, 1904
m. Katherine Morrison; 3 children: Lella
(Peck), 1893-1966; Cecil, d. 1955; Joe;
1A2F1A4 - infant, b. 1842; d. at age of 3 weeks;
1A2F1A5 - Abner William., b. July 17, 1843; d. Oct 21, 1921; m. (1) Aug
29, 1866 Nancy Angeline Cott; children:
1A2F1A5A - Rudolph, m. (1) Lena M. Haring; 2 children: Ottie
and Russell;
1A2F1A5B - Rueben; m. Pearl Edwards; 5 children: Roy;
Virginia; Wayne; Cleo, b. 1912; Talda;
1A2F1A5C - Lottie;
1A2F1A5D - Eva, m. Archie R. Field; 4 children: twins Lewis
and Leonard; Robert, b. Feb 24, 1896, d. 1976;
Doris, b. Aug 1, 1902, m. (1) D.C. Lamar;
(2) July 22, 1876 Virginia Gwinn, b. March, 1841; d. may 15, 1927;
children:
1A2F1A5E - Russell H., 1879-1879;
1A2F1A5F - Mary Louise, 1882-1883;
1A2F1A5G - infant, no dates
1A2F1A6 - Daniel Calvin, b. Nov 8, 1845; d. July 6, 1907; m. August 1,
1865 Mary F. Maupin, 1844-1909; children:
1A2F1A6A - Frances Lorena, 1866-1959; m. Frank Hatfield;
1A2F1A6B - Paschel Elias, 1868-1944; m. Mary E. Hamilton;
1A2F1A6C - Olla Bella, 1871-1944; m. Robert Breeden;
1A2F1A6D - Hubert Roy, 1873-1929; m. Anna Seber;
1A2F1A6E - Logan Autran, 1875-1945; m. Edna Elder;
1A2F1A6F - Lilla May. 1878-1928; m. Hugh T. Donnan;
1A2F1A6G - Bertha Calvin, b. 1882; m. Leo Herman Hoffman;
1A2F1A7 - Finis Rae, b. Dec 1847; d. Oct 21, 1929; m.
(1) Dec 17,1868 Nancy Ellen Smith in the presence of
Wilhite and James Hays at the house of Joseph
Smith;
(2) Sept 8, 1870 Sarah (Sally) Hays in the presence of
Catherine Wilhite, J.B. Ish, and Abner Wilhite; children:
1A2F1A7A - Claude;
1A2F1A7B - Frank;
1A2F1A7C - Hadyn;
1A2F1A7D - Zula, m. Eli Hill; 4 children: Iva; Bon; Gilbert
and William;
(3) July 17, 1887 Ora Bell Elder, b. July 23, 1869; d. Sept 25, 1939;
children:
1A2F1A7E - Mabel Jean, b. May 20, 1889; d. Jan 20, 1984;
m. May 7, 1908 Claude Oots;
1A2F1A7F - James Ray, b. Jan 2, 1891; d. Jan 21, 1960; m.
Maude___, 1879-1969;
1A2F1A7G - Finis Ely, b. Oct 18, 1892; d. Jan 4, 1953; m.
Feb 12, 1918 Leuna Fax Flagg;
1A2F1A7H - Hattie Marie, b. Jan 10, 1895; d. Nov 7, 1976;
m; (1) 1915 George R. Epperson; (2) 1953 Joseph
M. Thomas;
1A2F1A7I - Jessie, b. Nov 22, 1897; d. Nov 24, 1897;
1A2F1A7J - Roy Carl, b. July 18, 1900: d. Nov 9, 1974; m.
Nov 3 ,1919 Hattie L. Epperson: 5 children;
1A2F1A7K - Mary Bell, b Nov 16, 1902; m. ____ Etherton;
1A2F1A7L - Cecil Calvin, b. Oct 13, 1906; d. Jan 27, 1969;
1A2F1A7M - Leo Van, b. Sept 20, 1908 ; d. Feb 19.1973;
1A2F1A7N - Willie Mae, b. April 14, 1914; m. ____Clampitt:
1A2F1A8 - Nancy Elizabeth, b. Nov 13, 1849; d. Sept 15, 1874; m.
March 19, 1868 James Monroe Hays; children:
1A2F1A8A - Floyd;
1A2F1A8B - Rueben;
1A2F1A8C - Leonidas;
1A2F1A9 - Luella Bella, b. Feb 21, 1853; d. March 1920; m. Jasper
Morgan; children:
1A2F1A9A - Ina, m. George Mullins;
1A2F1A9B - Lela;
1A2F1A9C - Evie, m. ____McMahan;
1A2F1A9D - Angie;
1A2F1A9E - Dean;
1A2F1A10 - Rueben Kennette Yeager, b. Apr 15, 1855 d. Sept 4,
1873; Buried Mt Horeb Cemetery;
1A2F1A11 - Medora Alice, b. May 1 . 1857; d. August 1, 1857;
(2) Jan 15, 1860 Catherine M. Cott, 1836-1907; children:
1A2F1A12 - Sarah Angeline, b Oct 18, 1861; d. Dec 1924; Richard
(Dick) Elder; 3 children: Beulah; Carl; Fred;
1A2F1A13 - Amos, 1862-1934: m. May Jackson, 1868-1944; 1 child
Urdell;
1A2F1A14 - Luella, b. Nov 21, 1865; d. 1929; m. Francis Marion
(Dick) Netherton; children:
1A2F1A14A - Hazel, 1896-1896;
1A2F1A14B - Raymond;
1A2F1A14C -Gladys, b. July 8, 1893; d. May 30, 1983; m.
Feb 23, 1918 Ward P. Young, 1881-1928; 3
children: Ward Jr.; Dorothea (Winter); Betty
Lou (DeLury);
1A2F1A14D - Basil;
1A2F1A14E - Frank LaVerne, b. 1909;d. Dec 31, 1978;
1A2F1A15 - Elias, b. Mach 1868; d. 1882;
1A2F1A16 - Argulia, died in infancy
From "Portrait and Biographical Record of Lafayette and Saline Counties, Missouri", Chapman Bros., 1893:
James Montgomery Wilhite, an able and energetic agriculturalist and successful stock raiser located in twp 51, range 20,, Saline County, Missouri, near the town of Norton, is one of the leading citizens of his neighborhood and receives the respect of the people among whom he dwells. His grandfather James Wilhite was born in Tennessee and moved to Missouri in 1815. He was one of the early settlers of Saline County and located on the Missouri River before the territory became a state.
The Paternal grandmother was Charity Hays, a native of Tennessee and a woman of Strong character, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The sons and daughters of the pioneer household were: Elias, the father of our subject, Mary, Sarah, Martha Elizabeth, Naomi, James Franklin and William Marion.
James Wilhite fought bravely in the War of 1812. The grandfather died Dec 12, 1882, aged 86, and his wife died in Jan 1859. When grandfather Wilhite journeyed from Tennessee to Missouri, he traveled hither by wagon, with his wife and her fathers family. It took weeks to accomplish the long journey. Game was in abundance close by the wayside and they killed as much as they desired.
Numberless Indians were passed on their route and the deeper they penetrated into the wilderness, the wilder the scene.
Elias Wilhite, the father of our subject, was born in 1816, and passed the days of his boyhood upon his fathers farm/ In 1835, he married Nancy Baker of North Carolina, whose father had emigrated to Missouri when she was a little child. After his marriage, Elias Wilhite remained upon his fathers farm for two or three years, and then bought land near Slater where he resided until his death in 1868. His wife died in 1858 and he married again in 1860, this wife being Catherine M. Cott.
The children by his first marriage were Mary Jane, James M. (our subject), Charity F., William A., Daniel C., Finis Rae, Nancy E., Laura B., and Reuben K.Y. The second family consisted of Sarah A., Amos, Luella and Elias.
Mary Jane married J.W. Cott, Charity married Amos Cott, Laura A. is the widow of Jasper Morgan, Sarah A. became Mrs. Richard Elder of Saline County. The father of our subject was always a farmer. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, in which denomination he held the office of deacon. He and his wife were charter members of the Fish Creek Church.
Our subject, James Montgomery Wilhite, was born in Saline County, Missouri in 1838, and remained at home with his parents until he was about 23 years old. His wife was Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of David and Deborah (Cumpton) Ford. David Ford, a Virginian of Berkley County came to Missouri in 1841 with his wife and four children, which was afterwards increased by the birth of four more children.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilhite have been the parents of eight children, namely: Minnie D., who married W.P. Willis and died July 29, 1891; Dora, the wife of R.J. Flippin, of Hill County, Texas; James A., deceased; William Elmer; Davis Elmer deceased; Amelia A., married to C.B. Bennington of Saline County; Samuel and Mertie E., deceased.
After the war, our subject established a permanent home and settled upon a farm in 1865. He now cultivates 80 acres and raises excellent stock.
In political affiliations, he is independent, and during the war was a Union man, belonging to the Home Guards. He and his good wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the later was a charter member of what is now the Mt. Horeb Church.
The daughter Mrs. Willis, at her death left two children, LeRoy C., aged eleven and Ota, aged eight. James A. who died Sept 19, 1891, left two daughters, Mabel aged 3 1/2 years and Marietta 2. Their mother who survives is Elizabeth (Trimble) Wilhite, daughter of J.W. Trimble of Saline County. Our subject has numerous descendants, all of whom occupy positions of honor and usefulness. In the evening of his days, he has the consciousness of having passed a well spent life and deservedly won the competence which he now enjoys.
My mother, Jewell Netherton Huff, said she remembered that he was called Uncle "Gum" Wilhite.
From the "1881 Saline County Missouri History":
Abner William Wilhite, July 17, 1843 near where Slater now is. Enlisted in Co. F., Capt. Ben Wilson, 7th Regiment M.S.M and was in the battles of Osage, Big Blue, Nine Creeks, and Price's Retreat, 1864. Resumed farming after the war closed and in August 1866 was married to Nancy A. Cott, who died in 1875, leaving four children, Sarah L., Rudolph A., Eva M. and Reuben A.
On July 30, 1876 was married to Virginia Gwinn, daughter of Judge Matthew C. and Mary Gwinn of Saline County. One child of the marriage, Mary Lewis.
Copy of the writings of Mary Jane Wilhite Cott, Jan 15, 1890, Slater, Saline County, Missouri:
I, Mary Jane Cott (nee Wilhite) will write a little biography. I was born Oct 7, 1836. I am the oldest child of Elias Wilhite, the oldest grandchild, oldest great-grandchild of great-grandfather on my fathers side; great-grandfather William Hays; great-grandmother Martha Hays (nee Hamilton). My grandmother on my fathers side Charity Wilhite (nee Hays).
I was born on the bluff of the Missouri River Bottom about four miles west of Glasgow. My uncles and aunts on my fathers side, Mary Ish, Martha Woolard, Sallie Dennis, Naomi Duncan,, Elizabeth Johnson, Wm. Marion (Many), James Franklin. Grandmothers name was James. My mothers family I did not know so well. My mothers name Nancy Wilhite (nee Baker), her fathers name was Morris Baker, her mother Sarah Baker (nee Coonce). Uncles and aunts, John Calvin, James, Larkin, Polly (Testerman). They lived in North County Iowa, Texas and other places. When I was between two and three years old, my father bought a place about ten miles west of where I was born. There he lived the balance of his days.. I will write a rambling sketch, but will do the best my memory can gather.
The first school I went to, I stayed at Grandfather Wilhite's, went to Mr. Joe Huet who married Ann Ish. I then went to Mr. Taylor ay the same place. I will try and give all my teachers names: Mr. Chates who taught at our house, Mr. Gary Hickman, he taught in our neighborhood. I cannot date the schools, incidents occurring too numerous to mention. In 1856-57 I went to school one term in Miami to Mr. Lindsay, boarded at Mr. Bells, a Baptist preacher. Mother's people, her only sisters and brothers visited her in 1856, the last time she saw them, also herfather, who died in Texas soon after.
On October 12, 1857 was married, did not have a very big crowd, a few friends. Bro. Abner Gwinn officiating. The next day went to Church at my old church, Fish Creek.
I shall go back a little in my history. In 1849 we camped at a Cumberland Camp meeting at Mr. Henry Weeding, where I made possession of religion In 1850, Papa went to California, made nothing. Uncle Baker helped mother raise a crop. In March 1851 Papa returned from California, in 1853 he built a house, Mr. David Ford the contractor.
In August 1857 a baby sister died. The following October I married, in December we moved to our present residence where we have always lived. Mother kept sick a great deal of the time. In May 1858 Mother and Grandmother visited us, the last time either was ever here.
September 1858 Mother died. I still stayed with Papa until Elias was born Oct 7, 1858. Had quite a serious spell, got home in December, too many things occurring to mention.
Solomon was born Oct 6, 1860. Then the Civil War began making a great deal of trouble and sadness, Jack went into the militia some , hired a substitute, John E. Johnson. Jack went to Indiana for a while. Nannie Bell was born Nov 30, 1862; Sarah Frances on Feb 23, 1865; James Otho was born July 24, 1867; Frederick Yeager was born April 25, 1875; Montgomery Wood was born June 28, 1878; Fini Harl was born on Oct 17, 1881 so that is our family entire.
Papa married the second time Jan 1860 to Catherine Cott, then June 6, 1868 Papa died. Sept 4, 1873 brother Reuben died, Sept 15, 1874 sister Betty died. Reuben was a young man, born in 1855. Betty born in 1849.
March 22, 1883 was the first marriage in our family, Sarah Francis to Eillie Crosslin, the next, Nannie Bell to James Netherton Oct, 23, 1883.
In 1883 Solomon left home, went to Kansas.
I will go back a few years - in May, 1874, we visited brother and sister in Cass County, Missouri; who then lived there. In 1876 they came back here.
We all had the measles, it went very bad with Elias, he never entirely got over it. He went to Arkansas for his health, came home, worked several years at telegraphing, finally went to Kansas. He and Solomon took claims. In 1884 we visited them in Harper County, Kansas. Solomon had as serious spell of typhoid fever. I visited him again. He got well and sold his claim there and went to Stevens County, Kansas.
In 1885 I visited them again in Stevens County. Solomon never visited home until 1890 at Christmas. Dec 4, 1887 Solomon married Sallie Spoon. In 1888 Elias married Cora Roberts, April 8, I visited them again in June. Jim and Nannie Bell were living in Stevens County at that time. Jim and family and Will Crosslin and family came back home in 1889 in the fall.
April 4, 1889 Cora, Elias wife died leaving a baby boy, then July 21 it died. Elias came home and stayed awhile. It seems I can't write things as they come. April 4, 1889 Will Crosslin died, Francis lived with us for awhile, then in 1895 Frances married George Bradshaw. They live in Arrow Rock, in 1896, Nov 17th, Frances' baby boy was born. July 15, 1897 he died of whooping cough. Frances lost a little bot in 1888.
In 1893 Jim Netherton and family went back to Kansas, lost a little girl Ruby, then in August they were back home. August 7, 1894 Nannie Bell died, so the family was broken up. I took Opal the baby and kept her for three years. On Dec 6, 1893 Bessie married Eli Hill, in !895 Bessie died, leaving a baby boy one year old. Otho married Leona Duncan Oct 5, 1890, at this writing (1897) they have lost three girls.
In 1892 Elias and Dell McFadden were married in Sumner, Kansas, in 1895 they visited home with a little girl. I went home with them on a visit; went on to Kiowa to brother Calvin, into Stevens County to Solomon's amd Yeagers. In 1896 Elias and Dell came home. He taught school. In 1897 they went back to Sumner. Dell died April 30, 1887.
Elias came home and brought his baby Ilsa, who are here now.. He is teaching school. This is Dec 23, 1897, a nice day but Ilsa is sick.
A copy of a letter written by Ephriam McDaniel to Absolom Gwinn, from Diamond Spring, California, dated Oct 9, 1850:
Bro Gwinn, Dear Sir:
I arrived at this place one month since. I had very good health on the road. I was sick a few days since I arrived here. I am in tolerable good health now except cold. The trip from home to California is very dangerous, tedious and laborious. There was a great deal of sickness, and numbers died on the road of whom I will name: George Cheatham, David Irving, Richard Latimer, Harrison Gwinn's little son Richard, William Horn, Martillis Embrey. I have not heard from home yet, only through a letter from Alfred Wheeler to John Perry.
I did not go as far south as I expected and am near one hundred miles from Stockton. You will please write to me and direct your letter to Sacramento City. T. Clemmons and his son are employed on a ranch to herd stock. Matthew Mullins is in this neighborhood. George Hawkins, Littleton Rhoades, David Epperson, John Latimer, Granville Butts, James Johnson, Jackson Cat (Cott), Charles Dennis, Elias White (Wilhite?). John Meredith and Monroe Crosslin are all here and well.. They have been sick but are getting out again. There is some sickness here, principally diarrhea, numbers have died: but the way we live it is no wonder, being exposed to the night air.
The prospect for mining is dull. I am at work with the Drosslins (Crosslins?) And I expect we will winter together. We have not made any money yet, not much more than five dollars a day.. There are a great many dissatisfied and hundreds are going home. George and Harrison Quissenberry are down about Sacramento. I do not know what they intend on doing. Thomas is north of this place some twenty miles. He has made some money and I think they will all go home this winter.
Provisions are plentiful. Flour in Sacramento is about .12 cents a lb; corn meal .20 cent, pork .25 cent; bacon sides .30 cents; Irish potatoes .16 cents. Vegetables of all sorts are high. Men get from two to five dollars per day for work. The prospects look gloomy for a fortune, but I intend to give it a fair trial, if I live and keep my health. I make no calculations on returning home sooner than this winter coma year, then I expect to come home if I can.
Mr. Burnsides expects to start home in a few days, who I expect to bring you this letter. I will write to you again. Give my respects to my friends and my neighbors, especially to Brother Rhoades and family. Tell them Littleton and Bill are well and I know they would be amused to see Lit down on the ground making biscuits.
I must close. Wickedness prevails over this land. Dear Brother, pray for me that I may withstand every temptation.
I remain yours truly,
Ephriam McDaniel
Copied from a clipping from the "Slater News Rustler"
In the vicinity of Norton, the first settlement was made in 1839 by Robert Brown, Matthias C. Gwinn, Elias Wilhite, Dudley Cooper, David Ford, Thomas Duggins, H. Swisher, John Pulliam, Samuel Wall and Owen T. Willis, from Va. & Tenn. And by Cuth. Hickman from Kentucky in 1840.
