CENSUS: Listed with her parents in the 1870 Indiana census, age 9.
From "The Wilson Genealogy" by Lula Adda Wilson who was known by her middle name, wrote the following about her grandparents:
"Dear Nephews and Nieces:
I have written a little of what I have been told of our ancestry, it is very little. If I could remember all I have heard there would be more.
I believe our forefathers were a Godly people and that is something to be thankful for. They didn't leave their religion when they came to this new country, but the Church was established along with their homes. They may have had faults but they had convictions of what was right and tried to live according to their convictions.
We do not boast of nobility according to worldly judgement, but we may say with Cowper:
'My boast is not that I deduce my birth From loins enthroned, the noble of the earth, But higher far my proud pretensions rise The son of parents passed into the skies.'
We little know how many of the blessing we enjoy have come to us in answer to the prayers of those gone on before. Those who came over to this new country had much to contend with struggling for their independence. They did their duty the best thy could and we have enjoyed the fruits of their labors all our lives.
Another period of hardship in this country was during the civil war. The memory of that war was always like a terrible nightmare to mother. Father was out the last year of the war. I cannot remember anything about it. Grandmother, three of Father's brothers, Uncle David, Will and John were out most of the war. Uncle John was only 18 years old when he volunteered. He was in Sherman's March. That war seems to have been so wrong. How much better it would have been to have bought the slaves and freed them without the shedding of so much blood. We had relatives in the southern army as well as the norther. I have been told that at one time two armies were camped not far apart. Some relatives in the southern army came over toward the northern army and called 'Are any of the Wilson boys there?' It so happened that none of the Wilson boys belonged in that part of the army. It seems so wrong that cousins had to fight against each other.
After father came home from the war he bought a farm with the help of Granfather Gordon. My grandfather Wilson died when father was only 10 years old, leaving six little bys the oldest 12 years old and the youngest, a baby. His going was a sad loss to his family.
I had often thought Grandfather Wilson had surely been a good man for his six sons were all good men, gentlemen. Some years ago in converstaion with cousin Mrs. Martha Wylie she remarked to me 'I want to tell you that your Grandfather Wilson was a gentleman, such a nic good man. He was so kind to his wife and family.' I have felt grateful many times to Mrs. Wylie for this little bit of information. I know that she knew.
The farm Father bought was 1/2 mile north of grandfather Gordon's home and 2 1/2 miles south of Bloomington on the Salem road. The white frame house is still there as it was when we left it in 1875, a lovely little home. There Margaret, Lora, and Emma were born. Father and Mother began housekeeping in a little four room brick house on one of grandfather Gordon's farms. Later on, Uncle Aaron and Aunt Mollie began their life together in the same house. This afterward became Uncle Aaron's farm. It was in this house I was born. Ella was born in Grandfather Gordon's home. I suspect this was to make it easier on grandmother to have us all under one roof. Mother and her sistersnd her brother were born in this house. Grandfather had a good farm. He had been wise in the selection of his land.
Father and Mother left their farm in 1875 and moved into town on account of us children. They wanted to get us nearer to school and my moving we could all keep together. It was a wise move. Father bought a grocery store as soon as an opportunity opened to him. In it he was successful. This store enabled him to make a good living and to have mean by which to educate his family. It was a blessing to us that Indiana University was at our door and we all took advantage of it.
Grandfather and grandmother Wilson and little David move to Indiana in 1836. They moved as everybody did in those days, in a wagon. They had a saddle horse with them. Grandmother rode the horse most of the way from S.C. She said that was more comfortable for her than riding on the wagon.
Our forefathers left S. Carolina on account of slavery in which they did not believe. Although some of them did have slaves. Grandfather Gordon was one of a group of men through which formed what was called the underground railway. They helped escaped slaves on to Canada and so gain their freedom. Some one farther sould would help the salve to Grandfather's place. Then grandfather would harness his horse and put a little load of hay of something in the wagon wih which he cover the negro and carry him on to the next station which was, I think they said, Uncle Tommy Smith's home about four miles farther northeast. Of course these underground railway men were hated by Southern sympathizers.
I am mentioning thes things that I have been told by thost that are gone on, so you would know a little of their lives and the hardships they endured.
Within my lifetime there have been so very many changes in this world. My memory goes back to the time of dirt roads and travel by means of wagons and carriages, and in very muddy times people traveled by horseback. Later on we had macadamized roads in Indiana and now there are good paved roads in all directions from Bloomington. And instead of buggies and carriages ride in automoblies. The first automobile I ever saw was at the World's Fair in 1894 in Chicago. We called them horseless carriages. I had no desire to ride in one. I was afraid of a carrage run by gasoline. I remember during the summer of 1908 the people who owned cars in Bloomington offered to give rides for the benefit of the City Hospital. Father took a ride but Mother and I told told him we would rather sit on the porch and see them pass by. At that time there were perhaps a dozen and a half machines in town - maybe not that many. Our homes in my early days were lighted by kerosene lamps which had to be filled and cleaned every day. We had no complaint to make on our lights in those days, but since have electric lights I would regret to go back to coal oil lamps. When I was a child we had no screens in our doors and window. No one had them so far as I know. I do not know who was so thoughtful and kin as to think of the wonderful blessing for the home. I cannot see now hom people lived with any comfort without doors and windows screened.
A telephone was an unheard of thing. It was along in the 80's that telephone began to be common in Bloomington. And now these last years we have the radio, the greatest wonder of all our improvements. It seems like a miracle that voices can be heard from thousands of miles distance. The airplane and submarine are two wonderful inventions. But to my way of thinking the world would be better off if the submarine had never been thought of. It is more of menace than a blessing. The inventions of so many kinds of labor saving machinery are a wonderful blessing in the home and in all kinds of labor. I remember the first Bissell sweeper we had and we thought it a great help. Now we have the vacuum cleaner which is far better; I wonder what is next.
I am sure no period of history could boast so many inventions and improvements as the period in which I have lived. However, I have added nothing to all this. I have been on the receiving line, enjoying and making use of what others have discovered.
It is not hard to see that this nation has advanced wonderfuly in material improvements and in opportunities for intellectual improvements. But the spiritual growth in this nation seems to be going backward instead of forward. So many professing Christians are not living up to the light they have, perhaps none of us are or will as our Great-great-grandparents did in their day.
I remember when all places of business, with the exception of a bakery and perhaps a drugstore or two, were closed on Sabbath in Bloomington. I think it was so in most towns. There were no places of amusement open, no ball games and such like. But now our Sabbath in this country is much like the Continental Sunday of Europe, a day for recreation and pleasure, instead of a day for worship and rest.
May we each one study the Word daily and strive to live according to its teachings. 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.'
Much love to you each one and all of yours.
Affectionately, Auntie."
Adda was born at
Perry Twp., Monroe Co., Indiana, in 1861. She was the daughter of
Archibald Hemphill Wilson and
Rosanna Jane Gordon. She married
Harvey Missey at
Monroe Co., Indiana, on 3 August 1895. Adda died in 1945. Her body was interred in 1945 at
Bloomington, Monroe Co., Indiana, at Rose Hill Cemetery.
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