James Wysor

  Research Notes:

MARY JANE "POLLY " STEELE and JAMES WYSOR
Generations, IV, V, and VI
J. Robert Wysor & Mary Wysor, grandchildren of Polly (Steele) and James Wysor
Copyright 1998 by Dodie E. Browning- all rights reserved
http://www.oocities.org/heartland/ridge/6203/pollywys.htm
Polly Steele was the last child and only daughter of George and Rosannah (Fannin) Steele. She was born in Tazewell County, Virginia on 4 February, 1824. She married James Wysor circa 1845, s/o Adam Wysor. According to an entry in the New Testament that belonged to Sarena Cordelia, their daughter, Mary also had a middle initial "H." Bob Wysor states that her name was Mary Horton Steele Wysor.

Polly and James apparently had more than their share of sorrow. Four of their children died when they were very young. As a mother, my heart aches to even think of the grief that poor Mary must have suffered as she watched four precious children taken from her, who were all younger than age fourteen when they died.

Child 1. George, their first born child and first born son was born 21 March, 1846 and died on 5 September, 1860 at age 13 years, 5 months and 19 days.
Child 3. Henry Franklin was the third child and third son of James and Polly. He died at age 10 years, 7 months.
Child 4. Robert Meshack was just a baby when he died on 8 September, 1853 of flu. He was 1 year 7 months and five days old. Robert Meshack was the fourth son and fourth child of James and Polly.
Child 7. Rosannah Elizabeth was born 8 June, 1858 and died in the 1860s.

Six of the ten children of James and Polly lived to be adults.
Child 2. William Witten was born about 1848. Will married Mary Ann Taylor, the daughter of Chrisman and Elizabeth (Farmer) Taylor, on 30 November, 1867 in Tazewell County VA. He married 2nd to Sally Price (widow) on 10 September, 1894. (Marriage Bk. 2, pg. 99)
Child 5. Eliza "Lizy" Catherine, was born 1 February, 1854, married Bill Jackson. "Lizy" died 8 March, 1932.
Child 6. Raphal B., born circa 1856, married first to Josephine Honaker, d/o Noah and Elizabeth on 13 August, 1879. He married 2nd to Annie Nuckles, d/o John and Lucinda Nuckles on 12 November, 1890.
Child 8. Samuel Thomas born ca. 1860, died 1941 - never married.
Child 9. Sarena Cordelia " Cordie", born 1863, died 17 August, 1950, never married.
Child 10. Charles Beverly, born 1864, married Nellie Gauson on 28 April, 1909. Charles died on 1 June, 1948 and Nellie died 4 June, 1951. The children of Charles and Nellie Wysor
10 (1) Mary, born 9 February, 1910, married Orr Ferrell in 1941. Orr died in 1975 and Mary died in 1995. They had no children. I had the pleasure of spending time with Mary on several different occasions. Once was at a Birthday party for her brother Bob when all of the family was there. I also had the pleasure of visiting her in her home, before she had a stroke and became a semi invalid. Mary was a lovely, gracious southern lady.
10 (2) James Robert, born 24 October, 1912, married Hazel Hilt, a school teacher. Hazel is the daughter of Alexander Witten Hilt and Maggie (Brooks) Hilt. Bob and Hazel had no children.
10 (3) Henry, born 15 May, 1927, married Loraine Dales. They do have children and grandchildren, the only descendants of Charles and Nellie (Gauson) Wysor.

My good friend and cousin, Bob Wysor is now 86 years old. I have talked to him several times recently as his health is failing. Bob retired years ago from Southwest Virginia Community College and after his retirement, he drove an ambulance and hearse for a funeral home in Tazewell County, and retired from yet a second job. When he was young, he "picked up" and delivered dry cleaning, a job that has not existed for many years. Bob was also the caregiver for his elderly Aunt, Serena Cordelia and for his elderly Uncle, Samuel Thomas until their deaths. For his age, Bob is still very active (at this writing); still drives and is very independant.

I asked him recently if he could tell me something about his Dad. (Bob never knew his grandparents.) Bob said, " There isn't much to tell. He was a simple man and a hard worker. He was tight with a dollar and taught us to be hard workers. He was strict but we all respected him. That sounds a lot like my friend, Bob, except the part about being "tight" with a dollar and strict.

Bob bought back the cabin in the 1980s that was the birthplace of all of the children of George and Rosannah Steele, as well as the Wysor children. Bob keeps horses now and the farm is used for the horses and the cabin is used to store hay.

I love that cabin and so does everyone who has ever visited there. The quarters must have been cramped, but there was a lot of love in that little home nestled in the beautiful mountains of southwest Virginia, the place that our pioneer ancestors called home.

Thank you Bob, for allowing us to share this for our Christmas home coming! We all love you for it!!

James married Mary Jane "Polly" Steele, daughter of George Steele and Rosannah Fannin. (Mary Jane "Polly" Steele was born on 4 Feb 1824 in Tazewell Co., VA and died after 1900 in Tazewell Co., VA.)