Elijah Nicholas Wilson

Elijah Nicholas Wilson (April 8, 1842 - December 26, 1915), known as "Yagaiki" when among the Shoshones, and in his later years as "Uncle Nick" when entertaining young children with his adventurous exploits, was a: Mormon American pioneer, childhood runaway, 'adopted' brother of Shoshone Chief Washakie, Pony Express rider for the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company, stagecoach driver for Ben Holloday's Overland Stage, blacksmith, prison guard, farmer, Mormon bishop, prison inmate (unlawful cohabitation), carpenter/cabinet maker, fiddler, trader, trapper, and 'frontier doctor' (diphtheria and smallpox).

Wilson is remembered today primarily due to a) i) the publication of derivative works based upon, and ii) later-day republications of his 1910 autobiography entitled Among the Shoshones such as: The White Indian Boy: The Story of Uncle Nick Among the Shoshones (a volume of the World Book Company's In Pioneer Life Series), and The White Indian Boy ; and its Sequel, The Return of the White Indian, b) his founding of Wilson, Wyoming, and c) the 2000 movie entitled Wind Rive

Birth: Apr. 8, 1842 Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, USA Death: Dec. 26, 1915 Lincoln County Wyoming, USA

Children of Nick & 1st wife, Matilda Rebecca Patten Wilson:

...daughter: Matilda ...daughter: Edna Jane ...daughter: Martha W. ...daughter: Hannah Louise ..........son: Elijah Nicholas (Jr.) ...daughter: Catherine Ann "Kate" ...daughter: Sara Weltha "Etta" Wilson Leek ...daughter: Polly Ann ..........son: William Patten ...daughter: Mary Ann ...daughter: Fanny Priscilla ...........son: Elias Henry ...daughter: Nellie Guian ..........son: Ray Leon ..........son: Milton Jay ..........son: William Patten (b. following death of first son named William Patten)

Nick married 2nd wife, Sena Logan, later to be known as Sena Christensen, according to family information related in Charles A. Wilson's book "The Return of the White Indian". I do not know for certain her true name but do know this was a plural marriage arranged by the Church and Nick served time in prison for participating in this marriage. Two known children:

..........son: Wallace (raised by Nick and Matilda from age 2 until his death at abt age 10) ..........son: William "Bill" (raised by Sena until abt age 16, when he went to live with Nick and Matilda)

Children of Nick & 3rd wife, Charlotte "Lottie" Nethercott Wilson:

...son Charles Alma "Charlie" Wilson ......wife of Charlie Dorotha Fern Stark Wilson

...daughter Sara Charlotte Wilson

...son George W. Wilson ......wife of George Edna Earl Harris Wilson

Family links:

Parents:

 Elijah Wilson (1801 - 1860)

 Martha Kelley Wilson (1811 - 1897)

Spouses:

 Matilda Rebecca Patten Wilson (1849 - 1899)*

 Charlotte Rachel Nethercott Wilson (____ - 1950)*

Children:

 Matilda Wilson Thornock (1866 - 1886)*

 Edna Jane Wilson Ward (1867 - 1916)*

 Hannah Louise Wilson Smith (1871 - 1897)*

 Sarah Weltha Wilson Leek (1875 - 1931)*

 William Christian Wilson (1887 - 1944)*

 Charles Alma Wilson (1901 - 1998)*

 Sarah Charlotte Wilson (1903 - 1905)*

 George W Wilson (1905 - 1999)*

Siblings:

 Ervin Riley Wilson (1823 - 1907)**

 Alfred Gideon Wilson (1825 - 1887)**

 Mary Elizabeth Wilson Coon (1827 - 1856)**

 Milton Lynch (1828 - 1898)**

 Melvina Wilson McMurray (1837 - 1863)*

 Sylvester Wilson (1840 - 1895)*

 Elijah Nicholas Wilson (1842 - 1915)

 Mary Jane Wilson Craghead (1846 - 1908)*

 Martha Jane Wilson Kay (1846 - 1873)*

 Harriet Wilson Craghead (1850 - 1881)*

 Elias Wilson (1852 - 1927)*

 James Henry Wilson (1855 - 1912)*

• Calculated relationship
  • Half-sibling

Burial: South Park Cemetery Jackson Teton County Wyoming, USA

Maintained by: Mary Fowler Leek Originally Created by: Judi Wollenziehn Record added: Aug 04, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 28786017