Wilday, Alva
Birth
Alva Spencer[1] Wilday (Alvah Wilday)was born on May 6 or 26, 1847 in Berne, Albany Co, NY.[2][3] He was the youngest of three children of John Wilday Jr. (B. Mar 17, 1821, D. Nov 5, 1900) and Maria Vandenberg (B. 1828, D. after 1870).[2][3][4][5][6]
Alva's given name has also been spelled Alvah.
==Marriage & Children== In about 1872, Alva married Mary C. Wilson (B. May 1854, D. 1943), who was the daughter of Reuben Wilson and his wife Lany A.[3][7] Mary had been born in Berne like Alva.[3]
They had the following children:
- Bertha Wilday (B. 1873)[3][8] - Mrs. George Felker of Amsterdam,
- Viola Wilday (B. 1876)[3][8]
- Avery Wilday (B. Sept 1879)[3][8][9]
- Jerome Wilday (B. Mar 1885, D. Feb 12, 1958)[3][9]
- Delbert Burton Wilday (B. Jan 1889)[3][9][10]
- Clyde E. Wilday (B. July 1893, D. 1910)[3][9][10]
- Evelyn Wilday (B. Oct 1896, D. after 1900)[3][9][10]
Education
Like many people of his generation, Alva did not recieve very much education. He was recorded in several US Censuses as not being able to read or write.[6][9]
Occupation
When Alva enlisted in the Civil War, he was working as a farmer, and he continued in this career for the remainder of his life.[6][8][9] This was a career he shared with his father John.[4][5]
Military Service
| Name: | Alva Wilday |
| Residence at Enlistment: | Berne[2] |
| Place of Birth: | Berne, NY[2] |
| Date of Birth: | 6 May 1847[2] |
| Names of Parents: | John, Jr. (Wilday) and Mariah Kis__lerberg[2] |
| Marital Status: | Single[2] |
| Occupation: | Farmer[2] |
| Term of Enlistment: | 1 year[2] |
| Bounty Received: | None[2] |
| Enlistment Date: | 31 Mar 1865 or April 12, 1865[11] |
| Enlistment Place: | Albany, New York |
| Enlistment Rank: | Private[11] |
| State Served: | New York |
| Regiment: | 43rd Infantry[11][7] |
| Company: | Company D[12][7] |
| Muster Out Date: | 27 Jun 1865or July 8, 1865[12] |
| Muster Out Place: | Washington, DC |
| Additional Remarks: Enlisted at the age of 18 |
| Sources Used: Ancestry.com, American Civil War Soldiers; 1865 census, Berne, Albany Co., NY; Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War; 1890 US Veterans Census, Berne, Albany Co., NY; Civil War Pension Index, Ancestry.com |
Life
In 1850, 1855 and 1860, Alva was living with his parents and older siblings in Berne.[4]. [1][5] The 1865 NY State census was taken when Alva was serving in the 43rd Regiment.[11] After the war, Alva returned to Berne where he first lived with his parents. The 1870 Census recorded that he was working as a farmer on property he owned valued at $3000 and had personal property valued $1000.[6] In the early 1870s, Alva married. By the 1880 US Census, Alva was still in Berne and living with his wife Mary and three young children.[8] In the 1890 US Veterans Census, Alva was recorded as living in East Berne, Albany Co, NY. Alva filed for his Civil War Pension on July 18, 1892.[7] In 1900 in Berne, Alva was working as a farmer however he was now renting a farm.[9] In 1905, his address was Country Road, Berne, NY.[10]
Death
Alva died August 14, 1907 and was buried at Knox Cemetery in Knox, Albany County, NY. After his death, his wife filed for his Civil War Pension on December 24, 1907.[7] His wife Mary lived for many more years, not dying until 1943 in Albany.[3] She was buried with her husband at Knox Cemetery.[3]
Obituary
Thompson's Lake
Died, August 14th, (1907) after a lingering illness, Mr. Alva Wilday, aged 69? years. Funeral from his late home Saturday at 1 o'clock., Rev. Edward Kelder officiating. Undertaker Mattice of West Berne, had charge of funeral arrangements. Burial in Knox Cemetery. Mr. Wilday leaves besides his wife, three daughters, Mrs. George Felker of Amsterdam, Misses Viola and Evelyn Wilday; three sons, Avery, Jerome, Bert and Clyde Wilday, and an aged brother, Marenas Wilday, of Schoharie, to mourn his loss and who have the sympathy of the whole community.
- Altamont Enterprise — August 23, 1907
Additional Research Notes
Additional Media
Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1855 NY State Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "1855Census" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Bernehistory.org
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 1850 US Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 1860 US Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 1870 US Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Civil War Pension Index, Ancestry.com
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 1880 US Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 1900 US Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 1905 NY State Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 1865 NY State Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 1890 US Veterans Census, Berne, Albany Co, NY
