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 60 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
New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900 about Alva Wilday[13]
Name: Alva Wilday
Age: 18
Birth Year: abt 1847
Birth Place: Berne, New York
Enlistment Year: 1865
Enlistment Location: Albany, New York
Muster Year: 1865
Separation Details: Muster Out of Service
Separation Date: 27 Jun 1865
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 about Alva Wilday[13]
Name: Alva Wilday
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: New York
Regiment Name: 43 N.Y. Infantry.
Regiment Name Expanded: 43rd Regiment, New York Infantry
Company: D
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M551 roll 152
American Civil War Soldiers about Alva Wilday[13]
Name: Alva Wilday
Enlistment Date: 31 Mar 1865
Enlistment Place: Albany, New York
Side Served: Union
State Served: New York
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 31 March 1865 at the age of 18.
Enlisted in Company D, 43rd Infantry Regiment New York on 12 Apr 1865.
Mustered Out Company D, 43rd Infantry Regiment New York on 27 Jun 1865 at Washington, DC.
Sources: 14
1890 Veterans Schedules about Alva Wilday[13]
Veteran's Name: Alva Wilday
Home in 1890 (Township, County, State): Berne, Albany, New York
Year enlisted: 1865
Year discharged: 1865
Rank: Private
U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 about Alva S Wilday[13]
Name: Alva S Wilday
State Filed: New York
Widow: Mary C Wilday
Roll Number: T288_518
Census Records
| 1850 United States Federal Census about Alva Wilday[13] Name: Alva Wilday |
1860 United States Federal Census about Alva Wilday[13] Name: Alva Wilday |
| 1870 United States Federal Census about Alva Wilda[13] Name: Alva Wilda |
1880 United States Federal Census about Alvah Wilday[13] Name: Alvah Wilday |
| 1900 United States Federal Census about Alba Wilday[13] Name: Alba Wilday |
Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
New York, Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, ca 1861-1865 about Alvah Willey[13]
Name: Alvah Willey
Birth Date: 6 May 1847
Birth Place: Bern, New York
Father: Johnson Willey
Mother: Abariah
Residence Place: Albany
Enlistment Date: 31 Mar 1864
Enlistment Location: Berne, Albany, New York
Regiment: 43rd Regiment
Company: D
Rank: Private
Marital Status: Single
Additional Media
Rensselaerville - Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Wilday of Schenectady and Mrs. Mary Wilday and daughters, Evelyn and Bertha, all of Troy were callers at L. W. Becker Sunday
- Altamont Enterprise - July 17, 1931
WEST MOUNTAIN - Mrs. Mary Wilday of Schenectady spent a few days with her brother, G. L. Wilson, and other friends.
- Altamont Enterprise - August 9, 1912
DIED - WILDAY — In Schenectady, July 22, 1916, Clyde E. Wilday, son of May and the late Alva Wilday, aged 17 years. The funeral was held from the Knox Reformed church Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock.
- Altamont Enterprise - July 29, 1910
Jerome Wilday of Newark, Albany county, who is employed at the General Electric Works, was married Wednesday evening, May 2,(1907) at 8 o'clock to Mrs. Bertha M. Shultes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Schermerhorn of Schenectady, at the parsonage of the Bellevue Reformed church. Rev, Robert J. Hogan performing the ceremony. The wedding was very quiet. Mrs. Wilday formerly lived at Gallupville, N. Y. recently has made her home with her parents in Schenectady. After a wedding trip Mr. and Mrs. Wilday will be at home to their friends at 122 Guilderland avenue.
- Altamont Enterprise - May 31, 1907
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
- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 www.Ancestry.com
