Josephus W. Woolsey

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Pedigree
ChartsAncestors of Dora Myrtle Woolsey
Gaspard Karner to Dora Myrtle (Woolsey) Smith
Richard M. Nixon - Dora Myrtle (Woolsey) Smith
James Earl Carter Jr. - Dora Myrtle (Woolsey) Smith
Josephus W. Woolsey, son of William Price "William Porterfield" Woolsey and Eliza Jane Wheatley, was born at Pike Co., Indiana, 30 November 1851.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 He died at Oakland City, Gibson Co., Indiana, 25 April 1931,7,9,10,11 and was buried at New Liberty Cemetery, Monroe, Pike Co., Indiana, 28 April 1931.7,12

Josephus married (1) Sarah Jane Agee, daughter of Jesse Agee and Elizabeth Madden, at Pike Co., 15 February 1871;13,14 they later divorced, perhaps at Lawrence Co., Indiana, before 1900;15,16 he married (2) Lula Olive Carner, daughter of John Daniel Carner and Mary D. Wilson, at Caldwell Co., Kentucky, 8 May 1900;17,14,18 they later divorced at Knox Co., Indiana, 22 February 1930.19,7,20,21

Josephus W. Woolsey originally had no middle initial. He is said to have added the "W" while in Missouri to help identify his mail, but Kentucky Mason's records show him with the W well before moving to Missouri. He was in McLean Co., Kentucky by 1898 when he is shown as a Master Mason of the Livermore Lodge, No. 186.22 He was demitted from Livermore, 15 Dec 1900, and admitted to the Hurricane Lodge, No. 571 in Sheridan, Crittenden Co., Kentucky, 6 Jul 1901.23

He was on a lumber or timber buying trip when he met Lula. Thus far, a divorce record between himself and Sarah has not been found. His daughter Dora recalled that the family went to visit some of their half-siblings sometime between 1910-30, but the older Woolsey children would have nothing to do with the younger ones, essentially blaming Lula, and by extension, her children, for alienating their father's affection. In 1921, Boucher apparently knew his cousin Josephus. Protecting his privacy, Boucher simply wrote that Josephus "has a very interesting family and lives in the town of Arthur but the post office is Winslow, Pike County, Indiana. . . . Write Him for the history of family."24 To this writer, "interesting" is quite an understatement. To this point (Spring, 2012), no copy of any letter or document from Josephus recording his family has been located, except for his family bible, last seen in 1986.

Although born in Indiana, he related that he used to play in or near Mammoth Cave in Edmonson Co., Kentucky. He probably did so during visits to relatives who still remained in the area.

Josephus and Lula remained in Caldwell Co. for about five years, moving to Zalma, Bollinger Co., Missouri in 1905, though records of the Hurricane Lodge show he was not demitted until 27 Jul 1907.25 The family moved around the southeastern section of Missouri several more times before moving to southern Illinois.26,27

The 1880 census shows he was a school teacher, though it seems by 1900 he had left that profession.2

The 1900 Census shows Sarah as widowed, however, Josephus is alive and well with his second wife in Kentucky. A granddaughter thought the first wife (Sarah) had died before Josephus remarried.16,15

At his request, he was given a "Certificate of Dimit" from the Zalma Lodge, No. 545 of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri, 28 Nov 1919. It indicates he was a Master Mason of good and regular standing and all dues were paid and he was free of all charges. His daughter Dora later said he left the Masons because he joined the church, though this coincides very closely with his move to Illinois as he was there by the time of the census in 1920.28

In 1930, Josephus was living with his son Leonard in Pike Co. and is shown as "widowed." Lula had married Wm Heironimous in February, 1930 and her marriage license to Hieronomous shows the divorce was finalized that day.

Chronic Nephritis (kidney disease) is given as the cause of death, onset being in 1928.2930,7,20,6

Family 1

Sarah Jane Agee b. 8 Nov 1856, d. 24 Sep 1917
Children
  • Etta Woolsey9,31 b. 1873, d. bt 1917 - 1930
  • Wilbur Woolsey9,31 b. 19 Jul 1875, d. 23 Dec 1943
  • Ida Woolsey9,31 b. 18 Feb 1878, d. 11 Jul 1954
  • Garfield W. Woolsey9 b. 16 Aug 1880, d. 2 Jun 1958

Family 2

Lula Olive Carner b. 24 Jan 1882, d. 16 Oct 1962
Children
  • Elbert Ellsworth Woolsey9 b. 18 May 1902, d. 1945
  • Leonard Orr Woolsey9 b. 9 Dec 1903, d. 12 May 1963
  • William E. Woolsey9 b. 8 Dec 1904, d. 20 Apr 1990
  • Olney B. Woolsey9 b. 6 May 1907, d. 5 Jan 1908
  • Dora Myrtle Woolsey+9 b. 27 May 1908, d. 4 Feb 1995
  • (…) Woolsey9 b. 12 Sep 1912, d. 13 Sep 1912
  • Leona M Woolsey9 b. 1 Jul 1914, d. 4 Oct 1943
  • Mary Agnes Woolsey9 b. 14 Nov 1917, d. 19 Dec 1993
This person was last edited on16 Apr 2022

Citations

  1. [S458] Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Liberty Township, Stoddard Co., Missouri, population schedule, sheet #4, dwelling #32, family #31, William P Woolsey household, age 8, born in Indiana; original data: NARA micropublication M653, Eighth Census of the United States, 1438 rolls, roll #657.
  2. [S460] Ancestry.com, 1880 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Monroe Township, Pike Co., Indiana, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 173, sheet #283/36, dwelling #312, family #317, Josephus Woolsey household, age 28, born in Indiana, a school teacher; original data: NARA micropublication T9, Tenth Census of the United States, 1454 rolls, roll #304.
  3. [S461] Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Donaldson Township, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 9, sheet #6A, dwelling #95, family #98, John D Carner household, age 48, born November 1851 in Indiana, an inspector of railroad ties; original data: NARA micropublication T623, Twelfth Census of the United States, 1854 rolls, roll #511.
  4. [S462] Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Wayne Township, Bollinger Co., Missouri, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 9, sheet #6A, dwelling #79, family #79, J. W. Woolsey household, age 59, born in Indiana, married 9 years, owned his farm.; original data: NARA micropublication T624, Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1784 rolls, roll #769.
  5. [S463] Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Patoka Township, Pike Co., Indiana, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 41, sheet #24A, dwelling #448, family #468, Josephus W. Woolsey household, age 68, born in Indiana, owned a mortgaged farm; original data: NARA micropublication T625, Fourteenth Census of the United States, 2076 rolls, roll #460.
  6. [S464] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Patoka Township, Pike Co., Indiana, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 63-11, sheet #5B, dwelling #113, family #116, Leonard Woolsey household, age 78, born in Indiana; original data: NARA micropublication T626, Fifteenth Census of the United States, 2668 rolls, roll #621.
  7. [S1025] Josephus W. Woolsey, Death Certificates, File No. 11863 (1931), Indiana State Department of Health, Indianapolis, Indiana.
  8. [S811] James W. Woolsey, The Wolsey-Woolsey Family of America, two parts, (Kansas City, Missouri: Heart of America Genealogical Society, 1981), microform copy: FHL Film/Fiche #1276468, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 186, further cited as Woolsey, Wolsey-Woolsey Family.
  9. [S812] Josephus W. Woolsey Family, Notes from Family Bible, taken by the compiler in 1986, Gregory Cooke, Clarkdale, Arizona.
  10. [S805] Ronald G. Garland and Alta Rose Nemeth. Woolsey and Carner Families, Photocopy of Unpublished Research Notes & Letters, Gregory Cooke, Clarkdale, Arizona, Garland to Nemeth ltr, 3 Nov 78, p. 9.
  11. [S811] Woolsey, Wolsey-Woolsey Family, 186. states 1 Jan 1931.
  12. [S2323] Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed Sep 2020), memorial page for Josephus Woolsey, Find a Grave memorial #63302058, maintained by Robin, further cited as Find A Grave.
  13. [S1791] Ruth M. Slevin and Opal Phillips, Pike County - Indiana: Marriage Record 1859 - 1905: Grooms (np: sp, [1973]), 172, further cited as Slevin and Phillips, Pike Co. Grooms.
  14. [S805] Garland and Nemeth, Woolsey and Carner Families, Garland to Nemeth ltr, 18 Nov 78: 5.
  15. [S461] 1900 United States Census, Town of Mitchell in Marion Township, Lawrence Co., Indiana, pop. sched., e.d. 69, sheet #16B, dwelling #385, family #401, Sarah Wolsey household.
  16. [S461] 1900 United States Census, Donaldson Township, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., e.d. 9, sheet #6A, dwelling #95, family #98, John D Carner household.
  17. [S820] Caldwell County, Kentucky, Marriage Records 1808-1968, 20:572-573, FHL microfilm 546384, further cited as Caldwell Co., KY Marriages.
  18. [S461] 1900 United States Census, Donaldson Township, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., e.d. 9, sheet #6A, dwelling #95, family #98, John D Carner household, married less than a year.
  19. [S464] 1930 United States Census, Somerville Town, Gibson, Indiana, pop. sched., e.d. 26-1, sheet #3B, dwelling #75, family #75, William R. Heironimus household.
  20. [S805] Garland and Nemeth, Woolsey and Carner Families, FGS: Josephus Woolsey.
  21. [S2462] Knox County, Indiana, Marriage Licenses, 38:564; Circuit Court, Vincennes; FHL microfilm 2441123-2.
  22. [S1781] Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Free and Accepted Masons [title varies] (Louisville, Kentucky: Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1800 to the present), 1898:41, further cited as Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
  23. [S1781] Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1901:44, 135.
  24. [S1879] Ephrates Boucher and Wilford W. Whitaker, transcriber, "Record of the Woolsey Family", Mount Vernon, Missouri: 1921, 12-13, further cited as Boucher and Whitaker, "Woolsey Family."
  25. [S1781] Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1907:163.
  26. [S805] Garland and Nemeth, Woolsey and Carner Families, Letters: Ron Garland to Rose Nemeth, 18 Nov 1978, p. 5-6.
  27. [S805] Garland and Nemeth, Woolsey and Carner Families, Research Paper:5-6.
  28. [S1106] Jean Seaton, Smith Family Notes, Photocopy of Unpublished Research Notes & Letters, Gregory Cooke, Clarkdale, Arizona, Zalma Masonic Lodge, copy of Masonic Dimit Certificate, 28 November 1919.
  29. [S1025] Josephus W. Woolsey, file no. 11863 (1931), Death Certificates.
  30. [S464] 1930 United States Census, Somerville Town, Gibson Co., Indiana, pop. sched., e.d. 26-1, sheet #3B, dwelling #75, family #75, William R. Heironimus household.
  31. [S460] 1880 United States Census, Monroe Township, Pike Co., Indiana, pop. sched., e.d. 173, sheet #283/36, dwelling #312, family #317, Josephus Woolsey household.