John Day Wilcox (1793 - 1886)

Born 14 Oct 1793 in Schoharie, NY

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 28 Mar 1886 at age 92 in Leroy, Leroy Township, Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

"Source: A Short History Of One Of The Pioneers Of Sullivan County John D Wilcox, the son of Dr. John was born in Schoharhie County, New York October 14, in the year 1794. He was a family of ten, having three brothers and six sisters, namely; Nathan,Samuel, Gideon, John, he being the youngest, Amy, Hannah, Chloe, Susan, Nancy and Mary. Only John of the above named lived in Pennslyvania for any length of time. John D spent his youth in New York until the War of 1812, then seen was his patriotism, for although he was young(18 years of age) he went to the war and under went some military service.

When the war closed he came home and in the year 1819, having some friends in Sullivan County, he came here and purchased a tract of land of 400 acres. (of which the grounds used at the present time for the Wilcox reunon is a part of that tract). Built a log cabin and then returned to New York State for his wife, Deborah Steward by name, she was also from Livingstonville, Schoharie County, New york. Returning in 1820, they settled two miles from Shunk, where the stone chimney is still standing; here they endured many hardships; here they cleared a farm from the wilderness; here they reared a large family to do honor to their memory

John D's wife Deborah Steward before their marriage, was born Nov 5, in the year 1801; she married John Wilcox April 4 1820, being nineteen years of age when they married. Their family numbered 11. Five sons and six daughters. Their names in direct order and the time of their births is as follows; Deborah, first daughter,born Dec 21,1821; John, first son, born May 17,1823; Charles, second son, born Jully 11,1825; Gideon, third son, born August 11,1827; William, fourth son, born Feburary 20,1830; Sarah Maria, born December 2,1832; Chloe third daughter, born Janurary 29,1835; Joseph, fifth son, born January 17, 1838; fourth daughter born (Nancy) June 14,1841; Mary, fifth daughter, born August 5,1844; sixth daughter born,(Rhuama) November 7,1846.

John D. was classed as a farmer but he took some interest in politics. He was known as one of the fairest or mined and just men in the county of Sullivan. He was with the party who surveyed out the county and also one of the committee appointed to decide the location of the county seat. His choice was Forksville but the majority were for LaPorte and LaPorte is the county seat. He was a Whig in politices until that party broke up, then he used his influence in favor of the Republican Party.

He was a strong man physically, a good hunter and a man of good size, weighing about three hundred. It is said that at a raising one time, a quarrel arose and two young men engaged in a fist fight. John D. walked up and took each one by the collar in each hand, held them out in mid air until they recovered their good humor again. When Mr. Wilcox came to Sullivan County, game was aplenty. It is stated he sometimes would go out in the morning before breakfast and bring in a fine deer.

He was a good tanner and tanned hides for many others besides tanning his own hides. Wolves and bear were not scarce, they often killed sheep and done much mischief. John D. Also made the furniture in his household and some are preserved as very choice relics.

Deborah was the first of the two to say goodbye to her friends of the earth; her spirt departed on the 14th of October 1852, she being 51 years of age. She also was laid to rest in the Porter Cemetery where Dr. John was buried. John D. survied his wife by many years. But was true to her and never remarried again.

In the year of 1865, he in the company with two daughters went on a visit to New York State crossed Lake Cayuga and above Geneva and Canandaiga. On his way back from New york State, he stopped at his sons John's house, who was then living at LeRoy,Pa. While there he was taken with a lingering illness which caused his death. He died on the 4th of March 1866, and was buried at LeRoy, Bradford County, Pa. He did not remain at Johnny's through all his illness, but went from there to West Franklin to his daughters, Sallie Kunzman, who cared for him until his death; he was 72 years of age.

Thus reads a few facts from important lives of John and Deborah Wilcox. There are many tongues to praise them and to talk of their memory for the descendants of John D Wilcox are a multiude of people, and surely they will never tire of hearing of the honor and good qualities of their brave ancestors.”

John (55) is listed in the 1850 U.S. census living in Fox Township with Deborah (48), seven children ages 3 - 22 and his father, John Wilcox (96). ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4C1-P9L : 4 April 2020), John D Wilcox, Fox, Sullivan, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family 12, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).[1]

[1]Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 February 2021), memorial page for John Day Wilcox (14 Oct 1793–28 Mar 1866), Find a Grave Memorial no. 99533325, citing Leroy Cemetery, Leroy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by LDR (contributor 47171969).

[2]"Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CTB-QJ2W : 11 January 2021), John D Wilcox in entry for Gideon Wilcox, 1827.

[3]"Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF47-VS2 : 16 January 2021), Gideon Wilcox in entry for Gideon Wilcox and Mary Elizabeth Hozeland, 27 Jan 1853; citing Marriage, Sullivan, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.

[4]"Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H5XN-G8PZ : 9 July 2020), John D. Wilcox in entry for Mary Jane Williams, 1905.