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· A life in the study

Floyd Perry Wilson

Born at McDonald County in 1910.

born about 1910 at McDonald County, Missouri

Also written Floyd P. Willson

From the Elk River to Grays Harbor

Floyd Perry Wilson was born about 1910, probably on his parents' farm in Elk River Township, McDonald County, Missouri, the fourth child of James Israel Wilson and Lucy M. Harris.1–2 The family tree gives his birth as 9 January 1910 at Noel (see Research Notes). When the census taker came in April 1910 he was the baby of the family, not yet a year old, with his brothers Cyril and Tulla and his sister Helen.1

A few years later the family moved over the state line into Delaware County, Oklahoma, and in January 1920 "Floyd P.", ten, was one of nine children on a farm in the Bernice precinct.2 In the 1920s his parents moved again, all the way to Grays Harbor on the Washington coast. In April 1930 Floyd, about twenty and single, was the eldest child still at home, at Junction in Grays Harbor County, and was working as a laborer.3

Two marriages

On 4 April 1931, at Montesano, the county seat, Floyd, twenty-one, married Nellie Maslowski Groat, also twenty-one, a daughter of Joe Maslowski and Martha Wisniewski who had already been married once. The index of their marriage record names his parents as Lucy Harris and "G I Wilson", a misreading of his father's initials.4 The marriage did not last. On 24 February 1939, in Lewis County, Floyd, twenty-nine, married Verna Ward; this record too names his parents, James Wilson and Lucy Harris.5 The family tree identifies his second wife as Cora Laverne Ward, of Mineral, in Lewis County.

In April 1940 Floyd, thirty, was living with his younger brother Woodrow and Woodrow's wife in a rented house at 318 South Michigan Street in Aberdeen. With them was a baby girl of eight months, born in Washington, whom the census lists as Woodrow's niece; she was probably Floyd's daughter.6

Later life

In the autumn of 1951 Floyd and Cora were living on Rural Route 1 at Tieton, in the orchard country west of Yakima. Their son Allen Dale was born at Yakima on 1 October 1951 and died at home at Tieton on 6 November, only five weeks old; he was buried in Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima.7 Floyd's life after that has not yet been traced from records. He was not among the brothers and sisters named in Woodrow's obituary in 1966.8 The family tree says that he died on 23 February 1986 at Alba, in Jasper County, Missouri, not far from the Ozark border country where he was born (see Research Notes).

What we know

Proven

  • Occupation at Grays Harbor County, 1930
  • Marriage to Nellie Jane Maslowski at Montesano, 1931
  • Marriage to Cora Laverne Ward at Lewis County, 1939
  • 5 homes, from the census and other records

Probable

  • Birth at McDonald County, 1910

What's still open

  • Birth. The family tree's 9 Jan 1910 at Noel carries no citation of its own that gives the day: the tree cites his 1939 marriage records for it, and the index entry read gives only his age, 29 (born about 1910).
  • Second wife. The bride of 1939 is "Verna Ward" in the index; the family tree names her Cora Laverne Ward, born 7 Mar 1923 at Mineral, Lewis County.
  • The 1940 household. Floyd's marital status and work in 1940 have not been read.
  • Sources. His census facts come from the index entries attached to him in the Ancestry tree; the 1920 and 1940 census images were read in the survey of his brother Woodrow's records, and the 1910 and 1930 images have not been viewed.

Sources

Sources 1–2

1 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township
2 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5

Source 3

3 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Junction

Source 4

4 Washington, County Marriages, 1931

Source 5

5 Washington, U.S., County Marriages, 1910

Source 6

6 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Aberdeen, 1935

Source 7

7 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1951

Source 8

8 The News Tribune, 1966

Life in time

about 1910

Birth , McDonald County, Missouri, United States

probable Sources 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

How we know

  1. 1910 Birth about 1910 · McDonald County, Missouri · probable

    Probably in Elk River Township, where the family was farming. The family tree gives 9 Jan 1910 at Noel; no record read so far gives the day (see Research Notes).

    He was under a year old in April 1910, 10 in January 1920, 21 in April 1931, 29 in February 1939 and 30 in April 1940, which together place his birth between about April 1909 and January 1910; his marriage record of 1939 gives "about 1910". The 1920 census gives Missouri as his birthplace, and his parents were farming in Elk River Township, McDonald County, in 1910. The family tree's 9 Jan 1910 at Noel fits every age except the 1930 census's (19) and is kept as a lead.

    Sources 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

  2. 1910 Residence Elk River Township, McDonald · proven

    E.D. 110, sheet 3B. Son "Floyd", under a year old, in the household of his parents, James ("Jim F." in the index) and Lucy Wilson, with his brothers Searel [Cyril] and Tulla and his sister Artella [Helen Artlea].

    His parents, brothers and sister identify him. Index entry attached to him in the family tree; image not re-read.

    Source 1

  3. 1920 Residence Delaware County, Oklahoma · proven

    Township 5 (Bernice precinct), E.D. 22, sheet 10A; a farm family, enumerated 29–30 Jan 1920. Son "Floyd P.", 10, born Missouri, in the household of James I. and Lucy M. Willson, with eight brothers and sisters.

    His parents and the brothers and sister of the 1910 household, with five children born since, identify him. The 1920 image was read in the survey of his brother Woodrow's records.

    Source 2

  4. 1930 Residence Grays Harbor County, Washington · proven

    "Junction" (E.D. 45), sheet 2A, dwelling 31, family 34. Son "Floyd P.", 19 [he was about 20], single, in the household of his parents, James I. and Lucy M. Wilson, with Odis, Ruth, Woodrow, Millie and Roy.

    His parents and five brothers and sisters of the 1920 household identify him. Index entry attached to him in the family tree; image not re-read.

    Source 3

  5. 1930 Occupation Grays Harbor County, Washington · proven

    Laborer (as indexed; the industry has not been read).

    His own line of the 1930 census, as the index entry attached to him in the family tree gives it.

    Source 3

  6. 1931 Marriage, with Nellie Jane Maslowski 4 Apr 1931 · Montesano, Grays Harbor · proven

    Both 21; the bride as Nellie Maslowski Groat, daughter of Joe Maslowski and Martha Wisniewski. The groom's parents are indexed as "G I Wilson" [James I.] and Lucy Harris. The marriage had ended by Feb 1939; how is not known.

    FamilySearch's index of Washington county marriages gives Floyd Wilson, 21, and Nellie Maslowski Groat, 21, married at Montesano on 4 Apr 1931, with the groom's parents Lucy Harris and "G I Wilson", a misreading of his father's initials. His age and his parents identify him. Only the index has been seen.

    Sources 4, 5

  7. 1939 Marriage, with Cora Laverne Ward 24 Feb 1939 · Lewis County, Washington · proven

    Licence and marriage the same day. The bride as Verna Ward; the family tree identifies her as Cora Laverne Ward and gives the place as Chehalis, the county seat. Floyd was 29.

    The index of Washington county marriages gives Floyd Wilson, 29, born about 1910, son of James Wilson and Lucy Harris, and Verna Ward, licence and marriage 24 Feb 1939 in Lewis County. His age and his parents identify him. That Verna Ward was the Cora Laverne Ward of the family tree is probable, not proven (see her profile). Index only; the image has not been viewed.

    Source 5

  8. 1940 Residence Aberdeen, Grays Harbor · proven

    318 South Michigan Street (E.D. 14-18, sheet 5A), household 115, rented. "Brother", 30, in the household of his brother Woodrow, with Woodrow's wife and a baby girl of eight months, born in Washington, entered as Woodrow's niece (probably Floyd's daughter; possibly living, not named).

    Floyd, 30, a brother of Woodrow Wilson (22, born Oklahoma), who was the "Elza W."/"Elzie W." of the 1920 and 1930 households in which Floyd P. also appears. His age fits. The image was read at the apply stage of Woodrow's survey for the infant's age; Floyd's own line (marital status, work) has not been read.

    Source 6

  9. 1951 Residence Nov 1951 · Tieton, Yakima · proven

    Rural Route 1, Tieton, Yakima County, where their infant son Allen Dale was born on 1 Oct 1951 (at Yakima) and died on 6 Nov 1951.

    The death certificate of their son gives the family's usual residence as Rt. #1, Tieton, for the six weeks of his life; his father is named Floyd Perry Wilson and his mother, the informant, Mrs. Cora Laverne Wilson, maiden name Ward.

    Source 7

  10. 1951 Son born: Allen Dale Wilson family event

    Their page →

  • proven
  • probable
  • family event

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Places in this life

8 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
  1. 1 McDonald County, Missouri Birth about 1910
  2. 2 Elk River Township, McDonald County Residence 1910
  3. 3 Delaware County, Oklahoma Residence 1920
  4. 4 Grays Harbor County, Washington Residence 1930 · Occupation 1930
  5. 5 Montesano, Grays Harbor County Marriage 4 Apr 1931
  6. 6 Lewis County, Washington Marriage 24 Feb 1939
  7. 7 Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County Residence 1940
  8. 8 Tieton, Yakima County Residence Nov 1951

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

Father James Israel Wilson 1882–1941 Mother Lucy M. Harris 1883–1940
This page Floyd Perry Wilson b. c. 1910
Wife · m. 4 Apr 1931 Nellie Jane Maslowski b. c. 1910 Wife · m. 24 Feb 1939 Cora Laverne Ward b. c. 1923
Son Allen Dale Wilson 1951–1951
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The evidence 9 facts with their grades, 8 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth about 1910 McDonald County, Missouri, United States probable 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6
Residence 1910 Elk River Township, McDonald, Missouri, United States proven 1
Residence 1920 Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States proven 2
Residence 1930 Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States proven 3
Occupation 1930 Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States proven 3
Marriage with Nellie Jane Maslowski 4 Apr 1931 Montesano, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States proven 4 , 5
Marriage with Cora Laverne Ward 24 Feb 1939 Lewis County, Washington, United States proven 5
Residence 1940 Aberdeen, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States proven 6
Residence Nov 1951 Tieton, Yakima, Washington, United States proven 7

Research notes

  • Identity: The records are linked as one man as follows. (1) "Floyd", under 1, in 1910, "Floyd P.", 10, in 1920 and "Floyd P.", 19, in 1930 are the same son of James and Lucy Wilson, with the same brothers and sisters.1, 2, 3 (2) Both of his marriage records name his parents: Lucy Harris and "G I Wilson" in 1931, James Wilson and Lucy Harris in 1939.4, 5 (3) In 1940 Floyd, 30, is the brother of Woodrow Wilson, the Elza W. and Elzie W. of the 1920 and 1930 households.6
  • Name: The middle name Perry is given in full on his son's death certificate of 1951; the earlier records read give only the initial P.7 The 1920 census spells the surname Willson; he is Wilson in every later record seen.2
  • Birth: The family tree's 9 Jan 1910 at Noel carries no citation of its own that gives the day: the tree cites his 1939 marriage records for it, and the index entry read gives only his age, 29 (born about 1910). His ages in 1910, 1920, 1931, 1939 and 1940 place his birth between about April 1909 and January 1910; the 1930 census's age, 19, is a year too few.1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 3 The tree also cites a second index of the 1939 marriage (Washington Marriage Records, ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4652146:2378), which gives the place as Chehalis; it has not been read in this study.
  • Second wife: The bride of 1939 is "Verna Ward" in the index; the family tree names her Cora Laverne Ward, born 7 Mar 1923 at Mineral, Lewis County. Verna is a natural short form of Laverne, and Mineral is in Lewis County, where they married, so the identification is probable; her age on the marriage record has not been read, and it would test it (she would have been fifteen).5 See her profile.
  • The 1940 household: Floyd's marital status and work in 1940 have not been read. The infant in the household, eight months old and born in Washington, is entered as Woodrow's niece; she was born about August 1939, six months after Floyd's second marriage, and was very probably his daughter. She may be living and is not named.6
  • A son: Allen Dale Wilson (1 Oct 1951 – 6 Nov 1951), proven by his Washington death certificate, which names his father as Floyd Perry Wilson and his mother, the informant, as Cora Laverne Ward (Mrs. Cora Laverne Wilson).7
  • Death (unconfirmed): The family tree gives 23 Feb 1986 at Alba, Jasper County, Missouri, citing only another family tree. The Social Security Death Index and Find a Grave (Jasper County) are the next places to look. His absence from Woodrow's obituary in 1966, which also omits his brothers Cyril and Tulla, says nothing either way.8
  • Sources: His census facts come from the index entries attached to him in the Ancestry tree; the 1920 and 1940 census images were read in the survey of his brother Woodrow's records, and the 1910 and 1930 images have not been viewed. His marriages are known from index entries only (Ancestry for 1939, FamilySearch for 1931). No WikiTree profile for him was found by the duplicate check of 26 Sep 2026.

Working notes

  • AKA Willson; tree-only death (unsourced lead): 23 Feb 1986 Alba, Jasper, Missouri, United States

Sources

  1. 1

    1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township, McDonald County, Missouri, E.D. 110, sheet 3B: "Jim F." [so indexed; also "Jim J."] Wilson (head, 27, married six years, born Arkansas, father born Arkansas, mother born Missouri; farmer, home farm, working on his own account; owns his farm, mortgaged; can read and write), with Lucy (wife, 25, married six years, mother of four children, all living, born Arkansas) and their children Searel [Cyril] (5), Tulla (3), Artella [Helen Artlea] (2) and Floyd (under 1); NARA T624, roll 797; FHL microfilm 1374810; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not viewed).

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5 (Bernice precinct), Delaware County, Oklahoma, E.D. 22, sheet 10A, lines 17–27, enumerated 29–30 January 1920, "Elza W Willson" (son, 2, born Missouri) in the household of James I. Willson (head, 37, born Arkansas; farm), with Lucy M. (wife, 35, born Missouri) and their children Cyril (15), Tulla D. (13), Hellen A. (12), Floyd P. (10), Odis A. (6), Ruth E. (4), Jewel L. (3), Elza W. (2) and Millie M. (under one year), all born Missouri; NARA T625, roll 1458; image 4385099_00298; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    1930 U.S. Federal Census, Junction, Grays Harbor County, Washington, E.D. 45, sheet 2A, dwelling 31, family 34, "Elzie W Wilson" (son, 13, born Oklahoma, attending school) in the household of James I. Wilson (head, 48), with Lucy M. (wife, 45) and their children Floyd P. (19), Odis A. (16), Ruth E. (14), Elzie W. (13), Millie M. (10) and Roy K. (9); FHL microfilm 2342222; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read).

    Ancestry

  4. 4

    "Washington, County Marriages, 1855–2008," database, FamilySearch, Floyd Wilson, 21, and Nellie Maslowski Groat, 21, married 4 April 1931, Montesano, Grays Harbor County, Washington; the groom's parents "G I Wilson" [James I. Wilson] and Lucy Harris; the bride's parents Joe Maslowski and Martha Wisniewski (index entry seen as a research hint on James Israel Wilson's FamilySearch profile, L2Z7-VRM, during the Ancestry survey of 26 Sep 2026; the record ARK was not captured and no image was viewed).

  5. 5

    "Washington, U.S., County Marriages, 1855–2008," database, Ancestry.com, Floyd Wilson, 29, born about 1910, and Verna Ward, licence and marriage 24 February 1939, Lewis County, Washington; his father James Wilson and mother Lucy Harris; FHL film 4136896 (image 004136896_00803, not viewed).

    Online Ancestry

  6. 6

    1940 U.S. Federal Census, Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington, E.D. 14-18, sheet 5A, household 115, 318 South Michigan [Street], rented at $15 a month: Woodrow Wilson (head, 22, married, born Oklahoma; residence in 1935 Aberdeen; eighth grade; laborer, street construction, WPA; 16 weeks unemployed; 28 weeks worked and $264 earned in 1939), with his wife Lorraine (18), his brother Floyd (30) and a niece (8 months per the image; indexed as 30); roll m-t0627-04340; database with images, Ancestry.com.

  7. 7

    Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 21157 (registration district 87, registrar's no. 23), Allen Dale Wilson: died 6 November 1951 at about 1:00 p.m., Rt. #1, Tieton, Yakima County, his usual residence (six weeks there); male, white, single; born 1 October 1951, Yakima, Washington; father Floyd Perry Wilson; mother's maiden name Cora Laverne Ward; informant Mrs. Cora Laverne Wilson; certified by the Yakima County coroner as an accidental death; burial 8 November 1951, Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima; funeral directors Keith & Keith, Yakima; filed 13 November 1951; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/CB1CB83A9D1FEDC8EB83BD8333237D1E), accessed 27 September 2026.

  8. 8

    "Man Found Dead In His Auto," The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), 4 November 1966, p. 40 (C-14): Woodrow E. Wilson, 49, of Puyallup, who came to the area from Aberdeen in September, was found dead Thursday afternoon [3 November]; born in Oklahoma, he came to the Northwest as a boy; millworker for the Weyerhaeuser Company's White River mill at Enumclaw; Army veteran of World War II; survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters [names withheld: living], three sisters, Mrs. Clarence Fulbright and Mrs. Joe Pearson, both of Aberdeen, and Mrs. Ruth Martin, of Westport, a brother, Otis, of Aberdeen, and six grandchildren; services to be announced by the Powers Wrigley Clements Funeral Home, Puyallup; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/734891548).