Butts County GaArchives Photo Group.....William A. Wilson And Ella F. Wilson-Portrait c.1883
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Larry Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 April 24, 2005, 9:20 pm

Source:             Gladys K. Wilson, Late Of Jackson, Butts Co. Georgia
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/butts/photos/williama2564gph.jpg
Image file size: 43.7 Kb

WILLIAM ARTIS("TIB")and ELLA(FINCHER)WILSON-c.1883

This 3.5” x 5” oval portrait of William Artis and Ella Frances(Fincher)Wilson 
was made by well known Jackson GA photographer, J. B. Guthie. Mounted on a 
heavy 6” x 9” card stock, it was likely made shortly after their marriage, 
December 30, 1882. William Artis Wilson was born near Fincherville on June 17, 
1856, on land that his grandfather, Joseph Wilson had pioneered c.1830(see the 
biography on this site-“The Family of Joseph Wilson”). William A.(“Tib”)Wilson 
was the youngest son of William H. and Frances A.(unknown)Wilson. Ella Frances 
Fincher was born at Fincherville on July 17, 1866, the eldest child of 
community namesake, John Lumpkin Fincher, and his wife, Sarah A. Dearing, the 
daughter of Thomas J. and Matilda(Kitchens)Dearing[all, formerly of Jasper Co. 
GA].

Tib and Ella Wilson began housekeeping at Fincherville, perhaps on 50 acres 
later deeded to her by her father in November 1886. There, they built a large 
new house on the east side of Fincherville Rd. near the junction of Isaac Head 
Rd. At least four of their five children were born at Fincherville; Daisy 
Victoria, Homer F., Lena F., and Zelma Wilson. Homer died as an infant. Son, 
William Artis Jr. may have been born after the family moved to Flovilla. 

Their Flovilla homesite(later known as the “St. John place”)is on the west side 
of US 23/GA 42, approx. 1/5 mile north of the GA 87 intersection. This house, 
minus its expansive porches, is still standing(see photos of the house and 
remnant out-buildings). According to the couple’s late grandson, William Alton 
Knowles, the house was initially built around-or joining a log structure. The 
upper floor(the square middle “doghouse” was added to accommodate the stairs)
was completed for daughter Zelma, and her second husband Gary A. Goode about 
1918. Later, Wm. Artis Wilson Jr., and his wife Gladys Kimbell,lived upstairs. 
Second daughter Lena Wilson, who had married John Wesley Welch, had remained at 
Fincherville. But about 1906, eldest daughter Daisy, and her husband, Olin A. 
Knowles, moved their family from Fincherville to Flovilla, near her parents.

First renting the “Shirey Place” for several years(on a crescent-shaped road 
just back of the Wilson home)the O. A. Knowles family then moved into a smaller 
Wilson tenant house along the main road. By early 1918, the Knowles family had 
returned to Fincherville, into the home of Oscar B. Knowles(Olin’s father)who 
then lived in Jackson. Daisy was making jelly in that house, when informed of 
her mother’s death at Flovilla. Ella Frances Wilson died on her 52nd birthday; 
July 17, 1918. Undertaker S. H. Thornton was in charge of arrangements. She lay 
in state in the “parlor” of their Flovilla home. A horse drawn, glass-enclosed 
hearse conveyed the remains to Sardis Baptist Church(Henry Co.)for interment.

By 1920 Olin A. Knowles had built a new house near his father’s place(see photo-
“The Yellow House”). Sometime thereafter, he built a smaller house for father-
in-law “Tib” Wilson, who had returned from Flovilla. Several years later, an 
older black man had been engaged to stay with “Tib“, during an illness. Cool 
enough for a fire at first, it had become too hot in the small house, and the 
front door had been opened. Members of the family were talking with the black 
gentleman on the front porch. Suddenly, a small screech owl flew to a perch on 
the screen door-a bad sign. The old black man began shaking his head. “Sump’n 
bad ‘gwine a-hap’n”, he said(pardon my uncertain dialect). And sure enough, 
during the night, in the early morning hours of December 4, 1928, William A.
(“Tib“)Wilson died. 


Additional Comments:
Tib and Ella are buried in the “Wilson Corner” of the Sardis Baptist Church 
Cemetery, near his parents, and many other Wilson relatives(old section-near 
the gates). Tib had six brothers who served in the Civil War. Five are honored 
at Sardis. Brother Ransome's grave had been previously marked by a traditional 
CSA stone.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/butts/photos/williama2564gph.txt

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