Ancestors

James Van Wilson

James Van Wilson was a full-blood Choctaw, the son of Simon Wilson and Melissie Wilson of Cedar County in the Choctaw Nation. Both his parents were dead by 1899. He gave his age as 24 in May 1899, so he was born about 1875. His memorial says he was born in Texas about 1878; his enrollment papers give no birthplace.

On 7 September 1899 he married Rosie Tims, the daughter of Vinson and Emeline Tims of Towson County. They were married in Cedar County by Wesley Sherred, the county and probate judge, and the judge's certificate says they joined together "with their mutual consent." Their first son, Islam, was born on 10 August 1900. Rosie's mother Emeline came as the midwife.

He had applied to the Dawes Commission on 1 May 1899 to be enrolled as a Choctaw citizen, from Cedar County with his post office at Doaksville. His card, number 1281, lists him as full blood. In October 1900 Rosie was moved from her mother's card onto his, and their son Islam was added. The Commission wanted proof of the marriage before it would change her name on the rolls, and James sent the judge's certificate on 15 August 1901. The family's enrollment was approved on 12 December 1902, under roll numbers 3483 to 3485.

In 1910 the family was in Wilson Township, Choctaw County: James and Rosanna with Arthur, Candace, Islam, Lizzie and Daniel. Their children were Islam, Arthur, Candace, Lizzie, Malinda, Daniel, Darius, Isabelle and Clara. Three of them died in the influenza years: Arthur in 1918 at fifteen, Candace in 1918 at twelve, Daniel in 1919 at nine. Rosie died in 1924.

The household spoke Choctaw. When Lizzie was thirteen he sent her to the school at High Hill, and English came hard to her there. He called her Lizzie May and wrote that on her legal papers instead of her birth name, Me-lis-see Elizabeth Fibby, so Lizzie May is what she became. Me-lis-see was his mother's name. He died in 1963 and is buried at Corinne Cemetery, Pushmataha County, with Rosie and the three children who died young.

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Cite: Heirology, "James Van Wilson (1875-1963)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/james-van-wilson-1875-1963-3e82a6.