41. FRANCIS MARION WIGHT
was born on 7 Jun 1832 in RUSH COUNTY, INDIANA. He died in ELLIOTT, MONTGOMERY
CO. IOWA. Francis's nickname was Frank or F. M. Frank was listed in the 1850
Census of Knox County as 18 years of age. According to the book, The
History of Montgomery County, Iowa, F.M., was about two years old when
his parents moved to Hancock County, Indiana in 1835, and in 1850, they
moved to Knox County, Illinois, where he married for the first time. In
the fall of 1855, he and his family moved to Madison County, Iowa, but
moved back to Knox County in the spring of 1855 for two years. In the
spring of 1859, he again moved, this time to Pilot Grove Township,
Montgomery County, Iowa, where they resided for many years.
In January of 1864, Frank enlisted in the Union Army, Company A, 12th
Iowa Infantry, during the Civil War, served his time and was mustered out
in June of 1865. A story goes that Frank went off to war, leaving his
wife and several young children on a homestead near Lewis in southern
Cass County, Missouri. One winter day a bunch of men rode in and asked
for food. Seeing her plight -- little food and little fuel -- they
stayed for about a week, shot and salted rabbits and venison, and cut a
large supply of wood. They also left at night, leaving several hundred
dollars for her. Two days later, Federal Marshalls rode in --- they
were looking for the James Gang!!!
James later moved to Madison County, Iowa and then moved back to Elliott,
Iowa, where he lived in 1881.
The date of his death is unknown, but he is buried in an unmarked grave
in the Mcwhirter Cemetery in Cass County, Iowa.
Information taken from a story submitted by Robert K. Wight of Eureka
Springs, Arkansas and excerpts taken from the book, "History of
Montgomery County, Iowa", provided by Letha Heichel and the "The Wights
II", by Lois Wight of Fort Ogden, Florida and the 1850 U.S. Census
records of Madison County, Iowa.
He was married to MARY TROUT on 25 May 1854
in KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS. MARY TROUT died on 18 Oct
1869 in IOWA. She was born in ILLINOIS. Mary was the daughter of David and
Harriet Trout.
Information taken from the book, "History of Montgomery County, Iowa",
provided by Letha Heichel of Dexter, Iowa. FRANCIS MARION WIGHT and MARY TROUT
had the following children:
+126 i.
JAMES WOODFORD WIGHT.
+127 ii.
FRANCES D. WIGHT.
128 iii.
FRANK A. WIGHT was born in 1860. Frank immigrated to California in 1885.
129 iv.
VIOLA A. WIGHT was born in 1866 in IOWA.
He was married to REBECCA HEADLY
MORRISON on 14 Apr 1870 in RED OAK, MONTGOMERY CO. IOWA.
REBECCA HEADLY MORRISON was born in 1850 in BEREAU COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Rebecca and Francis were married by, George S. Dewitt, J.P. According
to the book, History of Montgomery County, Iowa, 1881, F.M. and Rebecca
had a daughter, Mary, and Montgomery County birth records shows a male
child, born on April 23, 1881, in Elliot, Iowa to F.M. and Rebecca. The
date of Rebecca's death is not known.
Excerpts taken from the book, "The Wights II", by Lois Wight of Fort
Ogden, Florida.. FRANCIS MARION WIGHT and REBECCA HEADLY MORRISON had the following
children:
130 i.
MARY E. WIGHT was born in 1876 in IOWA.
131 ii.
MALE CHILD WIGHT was born on 23 Apr 1881 in ELLIOTT, MONTGOMERY CO.
IOWA.
He was married to MARGARET A. GILPIN on 28 Sep 1886 in WINTERSET, MADISON
CO, IOWA. MARGARET A. GILPIN was born in 1866 in
IOWA. Maggie is the daughter of G.W. Gilpin. Officiating at her marriage to
Francis was P.W. Jefferson, Justice of the Peace. (other sources show
the J.P. was P.W. Jellison and Maggie's maiden name as Gilpier, as soon
as I verify which is correct, it will be changed)
Information taken from marriage records of Madison County, Iowa.
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