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John Welch Wilhoyte: Ancestry and Descendants

John Welch Wilhoyte was born 20 May 1877 according to his World War I registration card. [1] This is confirmed by his death certificate that also indicates that he was born in Owensboro KY to James Wilhoyte and Catherine Luckland, and died 15 Oct 1932 in Louisville KY. It also identifies his wife as Nina Wilhoyte. [2]

John and Nina first appear together in a census record when he was boarding in her mother's home in Owensboro in 1900, as shown below.

1900 Federal Census: Kentucky, Daviess County, Owensboro Ward 1, page 29A
household 224/245
Carpenter, Sarah - head, W F 51, born Jun 1848 in IN, widow, 4 children, parents born KY
Carpenter, Nina - daughter, W F 23, born Jan 1877 in KY, single, father born KY
Carpenter, Pearl - daughter, W F 21, born Sep 1878 in KY, single, father born KY, seamstress
Carpenter, Verna B. - daughter, W F 16, born Sep 1883 in KY, single, father born KY
Carpenter, Charles E. - son, W M 15, born Nov 1884 in KY, father born KY, type setter
Wilhoyte, John W. - boarder, W M 23, born May 1877 in KY, single, parents born KY, electrician

They apparently married that year for the 1910 census indicates that they had been married 10 years. By that time they were living in Louisville with a son named Estill. The census record indicated that Nina had given birth to two children, but only Estill was still living.

1910 Federal Census: Kentucky, Jefferson County, Louisville Ward 8, page 51A
household 99/313 - 623 South Sixth Street
Wilhoyte, John W. - head, M W 31, married 10 years, born KY, parents born KY, electrician
Wilhoyte, Nina M. - wife, F W 31, 2 children/1 living, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhoyte, Estill - son, M W 8, born KY

By the 1920 census two more children had been born: Dorothy Lee and John Jr.

1920 Federal Census: Kentucky, Jefferson County, Louisville Ward 5, district 112, page 185A
household 187/228 - 230 St. Joseph Street
Wilhoyte, John W. - head, M W 42, married, born KY, parents born KY, superintendent at Sign System Co.
Wilhoyte, Nina - wife, F W 43, married, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhoyte, Estill - son, M W 18, single, born KY, parents born KY, Elec. Apprentice at Sign System Co.
Wilhoyte, Dorothy Lee - daughter, F W 8, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhoyte, J. W. - son, M W 3 6/12, born KY, parents born KY

By 1930 Estill Wilhoyte had married Della Cave, and they had a son, James.

1930 Federal Census: Kentucky, Jefferson County, Louisville, pages 70B-71A
household 110/247 - 831 South Brook Street
Wilhoyte, John W. - head, M W 52, married at 24, born KY, parents born KY, hotel electrical engineer
Wilhoyte, Nina M. - wife, F W 53, married at 25, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhoyte, Dorothy L. - daughter, F W 18, single, born KY, office clerk at hardware mfg co
Wilhoyte, John W. Jr. - son, M W 13, born KY

1930 Federal Census: Kentucky, Jefferson County, Louisville, District 61, page 168B
household 579/672 - 638 Harrison Ave
Wilhoyte, Estill G. - head, M W 28, married at 23, born KY, parents born KY, railroad clerk
Wilhoyte, Della H. - wife, F W 25, married at 20, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhoyte, James G. - son, M W 4 2/12, born KY

Della Cave Wilhoyte was a daughter of Benjamin and Malinda Cave of Hart County KY, as shown in these census records:

1900 Federal Census: Kentucky, Hart County, Cub Run, page 177A
household 152/152
Cave, Benjamin F. - head, W M 39, born Aug 1860 in KY, married 17 years, parents born KY, farmer
Cave, Melindie M. - wife, W F 35, born Aug 1864 in IL, 7 children, parents born KY
Cave, Effie M. - daughter, W F 12, born Jan 1888 in KY
Cave, Freeman - son, W M 9, born Sep 190 in KY
Cave, Gillie P. - daughter, W F 7, born Sep 1892 in KY
Cave, Ephraim - son, W M 6, born Feb 1894 in KY
Cave, Gracie L. - daughter, W F 4, born Oct 1895 in KY
Cave, Rabirth M. - daughter, W F 1, born Dec 1898 in kY

1910 Federal Census: Kentucky, Hart County, Priceville, page
Cave, Malinda M. - head, F W 45, widow, 8 children/all living, born KY, parents born KY, farmer
Cave, Gillie - daughter, F W 17, single, born KY
Cave, Ephraim - son, M W 16, single, born KY, farmer
Cave, Gracie - daughter, F W 14, born KY
Cave, Bertha - daughter, F W 11, born KY
Cave, Della - daughter, F W 5, born KY

According to the Kentucky Birth Index (KBI), Estill and Della had at least one other child, a son they named David L. Wilhoyte who was born 19 Jul 1936 in Louisville.

Estill and his family moved to California. The California Death Index gives the following information about them:

  • Estill G. Wilhoyte was born 9 Jul 1901 in KY, and died 15 Oct 1965 in Los Angeles County CA. His mother's maiden name was Carpenter.
  • Della Hall Wilhoyte was born 31 Dec 1904 in KY, and died 11 Dec 1992 in Orange County CA. Her father's surname was Cave; her mother's maiden name was Sego.
  • Their son James Wilhoyte was born 19 Jan 1926 in KY. This agrees with his record in the KBI. James died 25 Nov 1984 in Orange County CA.
  • Their son David Lee Wilhoyte was born 19 Jul 1936, as indicated above, and died 6 Dec 1990 in Orange County CA.

John and Nina's daughter Dorothy Lee Wilhoyte was born 31 May 1911 in Jefferson County KY according to both the KBI and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). The SSDI and the KY Death Index (KDI) indicate that she died there on 1 Jun 1976. She apparently never married.

Their son, John Welch Wilhoyte, Jr. was born 9 Jul 1916 according to the KBI and the SSDI. The SSDI indicates that he died in Louisville on 6 Jun 1996.

As indicated earlier, John Welch Wilhoyte died 15 Oct 1932 in Louisville KY. Nina Carpenter Wilhoyte, who was born in January 1877, died 15 Aug 1958 in Jefferson County KY at the age of 81 (KDI).

According to his death certificate, John's parents were James Wilhoyte and Catherine Luckland. His mother's name was Margaret Catherine Luckland as shown in various records. We first find John in the 1880 census:

1880 Federal Census: Kentucky, Daviess County, Owensboro, District 165, page 219D
household 313/347
Wilhite, James - M W 63, brick mason, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhite, Margaret - F W 38, wife, keeps house, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhite, William - M W 38, son, brick mason, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhite, Carrie - F W 16, daughter, at home, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhite, Flora - F W 11, daughter, at home, born KY, parents born KY
Wilhite, John - M W 3, son, born KY, parents born KY
Luckland, John - M W 28, brother-in-law, brick mason, born KY, parents born KY

Margaret Catherine was James' second wife. According to Kentucky marriage records [3], James A. Wilhite, age 41, who was born in Oldham County KY, married M C Lacklen, age 19, who was born in Jefferson County KY but lived in McLean County KY. The marriage took place on 24 Nov 1859 in Daviess County KY.

James and Margaret Catherine Wilhoyte are also found in the 1860 and 1870 censuses, as shown below.

1860 Federal Census: Kentucky, Daviess County, Owensboro, page 124
household 913/913
James A. Wilhite - 41 M W, brick mason, born KY
M. C. Wilhite - 19 F W, domestic lady, born KY
Wm A. Wilhite - 18 M W, student, born KY
Thos J. Wilhite - 7 M W, born KY
H. C. Wilhite - 4 M W, born KY
John Kigle - 20 M W, clerk, born KY

1870 Federal Census: Kentucky, Daviess County, Owensboro Ward 1, page 10
household 58/58
Wilhite, James A. - 52 M W, brick mason, born KY
Wilhite, Marg C. - 28 F W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, William A. - 27 M W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, Thomas T. - 17 M W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, Henry C. - 15 M W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, Carry C. - 6 F W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, Floyd B. - 2 M W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, Annie H. - 87 F W, at home, born KY
Wilhite, Buckner - 37 M W, brick layer, born KY, cannot read/write
Lacklan, John - 21 M W, brick layer, born KY
Wilhite, Nancy - 40 F B, domestic servant, born KY
Wilhite, Amanda - 18 F B, domestic servant, born KY
Wilhite, Nancy - 10 F B, at home, born KY

James is earlier found in the 1850 census with his first wife, Eliza. According to one source, Eliza was Eliza Ann Taylor. This source indicates that they were married 10 Aug 1841 in Daviess County, and that she died 22 Dec 1857. [4]

1850 Federal Census: Kentucky, Daviess County, Owensboro, page 347B
household 31/31
Jas A. Wilhite - 33 M, brick mason, born KY
Eliza A. Wilhite - 25 F, born KY
Wm A. Wilhite - 8 M, born KY
Jas L. Wilhite - 5 M, born KY
Mary A. Wilhite - 1 F, born KY
John J. Daviess - 23 M, clerk, born KY

According to death records, James L. Wilhite, age 10, died 12 Aug 1856 in Daviess County. Then the daughter Mary died 15 Jun 1859. [5]

Determining the parents of James A. Wilhoyte proved challenging. We knew from his second marriage record that he was born in Oldham County; and that he was born about 1818 based on that record and the various census ages. We also had the clues found in the 1870 census that showed Annie H. Wilhite and Buckner Wilhite in his household. Annie was shown as age 87, Buckner was age 37 and it was noted that he could not read or write.

Working under a possible assumption that Annie was James' mother and Buckner was a brother, we next tried to locate them earlier, perhaps in Oldham County, and found them in these records:

1850 Federal Census: Kentucky, Oldham County, Division 1, page 134A
household 131/136
Ann H. Wilhite - 62 F, born KY
Buckner Wilhite - 21 M, born KY, (idiot)

1860 Federal Census: Kentucky, Oldham County, page 87
household 628/625
Ann H. Wilhite - 68 F, born KY
Buckner Wilhite - 32 M, born KY (idiotic)

Two things to note: (1) ages were frequently off in these records, and (2) mentally handicapped individuals were so noted in the records.

In the Commonwealth of Kentucky Auditor's Report for 1867, on page 304, is a list of idiots in the Commonwealth who are supported by appropriations out the state treasury, and Buckner Wilhite is listed in Daviess County. This helps to confirm that the Buckner listed in the 1870 census is the same as the one listed in the 1850 and 1860 censuses with Ann H. Wilhite.

According to The Germanna Record Number 13 published by the Germanna Foundation (page 76), Larkin Wilhoite was married to Ann H. Smith in Jefferson County KY on 17 Nov 1815. Larkin last appeared on tax lists in 1833, and his wife was first listed in 1837 in Floydsburg, Oldham County KY. This publication lists Larkin and Ann with two children: Mildred Ann and Buckner. Mildred Ann married Thomas Wiggins on 17 Nov 1840.

Looking in the 1880 census, we found Mildred A. Wiggins in McLean County KY, and living with her was Buck Willhoyte who is identified as her brother. McLean and Daviess are adjacent counties.

1880 Federal Census: Kentucky, McLean County, Livermore, District 20, page 278D
household 106/106
Wiggins, Mildred A. - W F 63, keeping house, born KY, parents born VA
Wiggins, Thomas L. - W M 24, son, works on farm, born KY, father born England, mother born KY
Wiggins, Sherman R. - W M 15, son, works on farm, born KY, father born England, mother born KY
Willhoyte, Buck - W M 58, brother, no occupation listed, born KY, parents born VA (idiotic)

If the ages given in this record are accurate, Mildred was born about 1817, and Buckner was born about 1822. One undocumented source gives Mildred's birthdate as 12 Feb 1818. [6]

While none of this is conclusive evidence that James A. Wilhoyte was a son of Larkin and Ann H. (Smith) Wilhoite, we think that the preponderance of evidence makes it highly likely that this is the case.

According to The Germanna Record Number 13 this line traces back from Larkin Wilhoite to his parents Jesse and Mildred Wilhoite to Jesse's parents Tobias and Catherine Wilhoite to Michael Wilheit, the immigrant.

Links, Notes, and Images

[1] John Welch Wilhoyte World War I Registration Card
John Welch Wilhoyte WWI Registration Card

[2] John W. Wilhoyte Death Certificate
John W. Wilhoyte Death Certificate

[3] Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914 database online at Ancestry.com; taken from microfilm of same title.

[4] http://www.angelfire.com/ky/DaviessCountyKin/taylor.html

[5] "MARY WILHITE only d/o James A. Wilhite born Owensboro, Ky., Sept. 15, 1849; died June 15, 1859." From http://www.tngenweb.org/records/tn_wide/obits/nca/nca2-07.htm

[6] http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=felser&id=I8801

Effort has been made to eliminate errors, but their absence is not guaranteed. This document is copyright 2010 by Charles Hartley. Permission is hereby granted to individuals seeking family history information to copy the contents of this document for their personal use. It may not be sold, either separately or as part of a collection, without the written permission of the copyright holder; nor may it be placed at any other location on the internet without said written permission.

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