In 1850 Emily Jane Rogers, married Jeremiah Monroe Wilhelm in Texas. "Jerry" was my maternal first cousin--five times removed, the son of Richard Wilhelm and Sarah Seymour Wilhelm. I am posting Ms. Emily's obituary for one of her descendants.
Jeremiah and Emily had five (known) children: James (1852-1868), William Jackson (1855-1943), George Washington (1858-1931), Mary Thomas "Mollie", wife of Rev. John Patrick Beaty), and Emily Lavina Wilhelm (1864-1953). The children were all born, raised, and made their homes in Texas.
I love this photo of Emily Jane Wilhelm. I don't know the year, do you? She's what, between the ages of 40 to 70? Does she have on her "Sunday best" or perhaps a mourning dress? She skin is light complected, so she seems to have put forth effort to stay out of that hot Texas sun.
Her husband, Jeremiah, was allegedly murdered in 1865. Might this photo have been taken soon after? For more on her husband's death, see:
https://www.ancestry.ie/boards/surnames.wilhelm/717.1/mb.ashx
I'm really interested in any articles or stories about Jeremiah Wilhelm's death and/or his involvement in the Walker-Wilhelm feud, and welcome any links or comments below. Thanks!
Please see the link below to her memorial on Findagrave to learn a little of Mrs. Wilhelm's siblings and parents.
By the way, I just noticed I have four George Washington Wilhelms in my database. That's one more than the total of Andrew Jackson Wilhelms I have researched. Dare I ask if any Franklin Delano Wilhelm or Richard Milhaus Wilhelm cousins exist?
Sources:
I am grateful to Findagrave.com volunteer Jackie West who shared this photo of Emily Rogers in November of 2011.
The obituary was published in The Comanche Chief newspaper on 11 March 1921, p. 5, in Comanche, Texas. I obtained this copy from Newspapers.com/ ("Grandma Wilhelm," really?)
See Mrs. Wilhelm's Findagrave memorial via https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67136870
