"Joseph Wilson was born in Collin County to Joseph and Mary Jane Langley Wilson in Jan. 20, 1866. His father was about 60 and was living with a 40 year old daughter and her husband. Jane Langley was in her early 20's and so near sighted she could hardly do her house work. They all lived with Nancy and William O'Neal (Joe senior's daughter and her husband, so Joe's half sister).
Joe Wilson Sr. was Justice of the Peace in Arlington. When Joe (Jr.) was about 2 or 3 years old his father died. A little later his mother disappeared so he and his brother John were raised by their half sister Nancy. As soon as the boys were old enough, Nancy hired them out to sheep herders. When John was 13 or 14 years old he left home but Joe stayed on. When he was 17, he hired on as a cowboy on a cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas for a big rancher named Goodnight. When he returned he got a job in a lumber yard.
When he married Georgia Eddleman, he continued in the lumber business. Once, with her two brothers, he owned a cafe for about 2 years. Another time he owned a grocery store. But for most of his life worked just for Higginbotham and Burton Lingo Lumber companies. When he retired at the age of 60 he became justice of the peace in Cisco and served 4 terms. He died of an enlarged heart at age 72."
-written by Laura Fay Duncan (nee Wilson) his daughter born in 1907
Additional info (provided informally by Laura Fay):
Joe had a pretty hard childhood and was drawn to the warmth and family congeniality of the Eddleman family. He married Georgia and they started their own family. He was a very nice and warm man. He loved and cherished his family very much.
Nancy O'Neal (nee Wilson) was generally regarded as a selfish and mean person. She did not like the fact that her father remarried a young and beautiful, but basically blind woman and brought her into their household. It was often rumored and believed by the Wilson brothers that Nancy was directly involved in their mother's sudden disappearance around 1870. When they were older and inquired about it, they found that a neighbor had seen her riding a horse and stopped and exchanged greetings at a creek. The neighbor said she was heading towards the nearest town. Shortly after, Nancy O'Neal was seen riding in the same direction. She was never seen nor heard from again and all attempts at locating her or any information about her have turned up nothing.
Though they always believed that their mother had met an untimely death at the hands of Nancy O'Neal, there is little proof. In the 1900's a family descendant went back to the area where they grew up and asked around for any information about what happened to the young Jane. That person (I believe it was Joe or John Aycock who married into the family) could find no information. It remains a mystery.
Despite the alleged mean-spiritedness of Nancy O'Neal, she lived out her last years being cared for in Joe Wilson's home and died there (a testament to the good-naturedness of Joe Wilson). It was said that her husband, William, was a very nice and quiet man. It is odd that there is little information about William O'Neal, as he would have been Joe and John's brother-in-law, but essentially a stepfather. The impression is left that Nancy was very domineering and controlled the household following her father's death. Joe kept a large framed portrait of William O'Neal in his house long after his death and according to his grandchildren, they were absolutely terrified of the framed photo.
Additional Information:
In 2021, through DNA matches, it was found that in 1933 Joe fathered a child by a local woman, possibly his housekeeper. He was 67 at the time and no one in his immediate family had known knowledge of the pregnancy. The housekeeper was Guadalupe "Lupe" Garcia aged 24. Lupe kept the identity of the father a secret, though she eventually told her daughter that, "He was white, a judge, and from Cisco." While he never was a judge, he did serve as Justice of the Peace- perhaps leading to the confusion. The daughter, Phyllis Garcia (later Phyllis Lopez), never knew who her father was, though she also grew up in Cisco, TX.
Joe Wilson Sr. was Justice of the Peace in Arlington. When Joe (Jr.) was about 2 or 3 years old his father died. A little later his mother disappeared so he and his brother John were raised by their half sister Nancy. As soon as the boys were old enough, Nancy hired them out to sheep herders. When John was 13 or 14 years old he left home but Joe stayed on. When he was 17, he hired on as a cowboy on a cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas for a big rancher named Goodnight. When he returned he got a job in a lumber yard.
When he married Georgia Eddleman, he continued in the lumber business. Once, with her two brothers, he owned a cafe for about 2 years. Another time he owned a grocery store. But for most of his life worked just for Higginbotham and Burton Lingo Lumber companies. When he retired at the age of 60 he became justice of the peace in Cisco and served 4 terms. He died of an enlarged heart at age 72."
-written by Laura Fay Duncan (nee Wilson) his daughter born in 1907
Additional info (provided informally by Laura Fay):
Joe had a pretty hard childhood and was drawn to the warmth and family congeniality of the Eddleman family. He married Georgia and they started their own family. He was a very nice and warm man. He loved and cherished his family very much.
Nancy O'Neal (nee Wilson) was generally regarded as a selfish and mean person. She did not like the fact that her father remarried a young and beautiful, but basically blind woman and brought her into their household. It was often rumored and believed by the Wilson brothers that Nancy was directly involved in their mother's sudden disappearance around 1870. When they were older and inquired about it, they found that a neighbor had seen her riding a horse and stopped and exchanged greetings at a creek. The neighbor said she was heading towards the nearest town. Shortly after, Nancy O'Neal was seen riding in the same direction. She was never seen nor heard from again and all attempts at locating her or any information about her have turned up nothing.
Though they always believed that their mother had met an untimely death at the hands of Nancy O'Neal, there is little proof. In the 1900's a family descendant went back to the area where they grew up and asked around for any information about what happened to the young Jane. That person (I believe it was Joe or John Aycock who married into the family) could find no information. It remains a mystery.
Despite the alleged mean-spiritedness of Nancy O'Neal, she lived out her last years being cared for in Joe Wilson's home and died there (a testament to the good-naturedness of Joe Wilson). It was said that her husband, William, was a very nice and quiet man. It is odd that there is little information about William O'Neal, as he would have been Joe and John's brother-in-law, but essentially a stepfather. The impression is left that Nancy was very domineering and controlled the household following her father's death. Joe kept a large framed portrait of William O'Neal in his house long after his death and according to his grandchildren, they were absolutely terrified of the framed photo.
Additional Information:
In 2021, through DNA matches, it was found that in 1933 Joe fathered a child by a local woman, possibly his housekeeper. He was 67 at the time and no one in his immediate family had known knowledge of the pregnancy. The housekeeper was Guadalupe "Lupe" Garcia aged 24. Lupe kept the identity of the father a secret, though she eventually told her daughter that, "He was white, a judge, and from Cisco." While he never was a judge, he did serve as Justice of the Peace- perhaps leading to the confusion. The daughter, Phyllis Garcia (later Phyllis Lopez), never knew who her father was, though she also grew up in Cisco, TX.
"Joseph Wilson was born in Collin County to Joseph and Mary Jane Langley Wilson in Jan. 20, 1866. His father was about 60 and was living with a 40 year old daughter and her husband. Jane Langley was in her early 20's and so near sighted she could hardly do her house work. They all lived with Nancy and William O'Neal (Joe senior's daughter and her husband, so Joe's half sister).
Joe Wilson Sr. was Justice of the Peace in Arlington. When Joe (Jr.) was about 2 or 3 years old his father died. A little later his mother disappeared so he and his brother John were raised by their half sister Nancy. As soon as the boys were old enough, Nancy hired them out to sheep herders. When John was 13 or 14 years old he left home but Joe stayed on. When he was 17, he hired on as a cowboy on a cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas for a big rancher named Goodnight. When he returned he got a job in a lumber yard.
When he married Georgia Eddleman, he continued in the lumber business. Once, with her two brothers, he owned a cafe for about 2 years. Another time he owned a grocery store. But for most of his life worked just for Higginbotham and Burton Lingo Lumber companies. When he retired at the age of 60 he became justice of the peace in Cisco and served 4 terms. He died of an enlarged heart at age 72."
-written by Laura Fay Duncan (nee Wilson) his daughter born in 1907
Additional info (provided informally by Laura Fay):
Joe had a pretty hard childhood and was drawn to the warmth and family congeniality of the Eddleman family. He married Georgia and they started their own family. He was a very nice and warm man. He loved and cherished his family very much.
Nancy O'Neal (nee Wilson) was generally regarded as a selfish and mean person. She did not like the fact that her father remarried a young and beautiful, but basically blind woman and brought her into their household. It was often rumored and believed by the Wilson brothers that Nancy was directly involved in their mother's sudden disappearance around 1870. When they were older and inquired about it, they found that a neighbor had seen her riding a horse and stopped and exchanged greetings at a creek. The neighbor said she was heading towards the nearest town. Shortly after, Nancy O'Neal was seen riding in the same direction. She was never seen nor heard from again and all attempts at locating her or any information about her have turned up nothing.
Though they always believed that their mother had met an untimely death at the hands of Nancy O'Neal, there is little proof. In the 1900's a family descendant went back to the area where they grew up and asked around for any information about what happened to the young Jane. That person (I believe it was Joe or John Aycock who married into the family) could find no information. It remains a mystery.
Despite the alleged mean-spiritedness of Nancy O'Neal, she lived out her last years being cared for in Joe Wilson's home and died there (a testament to the good-naturedness of Joe Wilson). It was said that her husband, William, was a very nice and quiet man. It is odd that there is little information about William O'Neal, as he would have been Joe and John's brother-in-law, but essentially a stepfather. The impression is left that Nancy was very domineering and controlled the household following her father's death. Joe kept a large framed portrait of William O'Neal in his house long after his death and according to his grandchildren, they were absolutely terrified of the framed photo.
Additional Information:
In 2021, through DNA matches, it was found that in 1933 Joe fathered a child by a local woman, possibly his housekeeper. He was 67 at the time and no one in his immediate family had known knowledge of the pregnancy. The housekeeper was Guadalupe "Lupe" Garcia aged 24. Lupe kept the identity of the father a secret, though she eventually told her daughter that, "He was white, a judge, and from Cisco." While he never was a judge, he did serve as Justice of the Peace- perhaps leading to the confusion. The daughter, Phyllis Garcia (later Phyllis Lopez), never knew who her father was, though she also grew up in Cisco, TX.
Joe Wilson Sr. was Justice of the Peace in Arlington. When Joe (Jr.) was about 2 or 3 years old his father died. A little later his mother disappeared so he and his brother John were raised by their half sister Nancy. As soon as the boys were old enough, Nancy hired them out to sheep herders. When John was 13 or 14 years old he left home but Joe stayed on. When he was 17, he hired on as a cowboy on a cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas for a big rancher named Goodnight. When he returned he got a job in a lumber yard.
When he married Georgia Eddleman, he continued in the lumber business. Once, with her two brothers, he owned a cafe for about 2 years. Another time he owned a grocery store. But for most of his life worked just for Higginbotham and Burton Lingo Lumber companies. When he retired at the age of 60 he became justice of the peace in Cisco and served 4 terms. He died of an enlarged heart at age 72."
-written by Laura Fay Duncan (nee Wilson) his daughter born in 1907
Additional info (provided informally by Laura Fay):
Joe had a pretty hard childhood and was drawn to the warmth and family congeniality of the Eddleman family. He married Georgia and they started their own family. He was a very nice and warm man. He loved and cherished his family very much.
Nancy O'Neal (nee Wilson) was generally regarded as a selfish and mean person. She did not like the fact that her father remarried a young and beautiful, but basically blind woman and brought her into their household. It was often rumored and believed by the Wilson brothers that Nancy was directly involved in their mother's sudden disappearance around 1870. When they were older and inquired about it, they found that a neighbor had seen her riding a horse and stopped and exchanged greetings at a creek. The neighbor said she was heading towards the nearest town. Shortly after, Nancy O'Neal was seen riding in the same direction. She was never seen nor heard from again and all attempts at locating her or any information about her have turned up nothing.
Though they always believed that their mother had met an untimely death at the hands of Nancy O'Neal, there is little proof. In the 1900's a family descendant went back to the area where they grew up and asked around for any information about what happened to the young Jane. That person (I believe it was Joe or John Aycock who married into the family) could find no information. It remains a mystery.
Despite the alleged mean-spiritedness of Nancy O'Neal, she lived out her last years being cared for in Joe Wilson's home and died there (a testament to the good-naturedness of Joe Wilson). It was said that her husband, William, was a very nice and quiet man. It is odd that there is little information about William O'Neal, as he would have been Joe and John's brother-in-law, but essentially a stepfather. The impression is left that Nancy was very domineering and controlled the household following her father's death. Joe kept a large framed portrait of William O'Neal in his house long after his death and according to his grandchildren, they were absolutely terrified of the framed photo.
Additional Information:
In 2021, through DNA matches, it was found that in 1933 Joe fathered a child by a local woman, possibly his housekeeper. He was 67 at the time and no one in his immediate family had known knowledge of the pregnancy. The housekeeper was Guadalupe "Lupe" Garcia aged 24. Lupe kept the identity of the father a secret, though she eventually told her daughter that, "He was white, a judge, and from Cisco." While he never was a judge, he did serve as Justice of the Peace- perhaps leading to the confusion. The daughter, Phyllis Garcia (later Phyllis Lopez), never knew who her father was, though she also grew up in Cisco, TX.
Family Members
Children
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Carl Perry "Skeet" Wilson
1890–1959
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Queenie Wilson
1892–1895
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Ruby Grace Wilson Aycock
1894–1973
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Robert Lovell "Tubby" Wilson
1896–1944
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Langley Joe Wilson
1899–1919
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George Ernest "Ernie" Wilson
1904–1992
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Laura Fay Wilson Duncan
1907–2012
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Eileen Elizabeth Wilson Griffis
1910–1941
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Phyllis Balbina Garcia Lopez
1933–1985
