Wilday, Adam Miner

Birth

Adam M. Wilday was born January 17, 1847 in Berne, Albany County, NY to John Jost Wilday (B. 1826, D. May 20, 1901) and Anna Maria Resue (B. 1829, D. bet 1880-1892). His middle name was Miner or Minor. He was the oldest son of nine children.

Marriage & Children

Between 1870 and 1873, Adam married Anna Maria Gathen (B. Aug 12, 1849, D. Nov 15, 1884), who was the daughter of Mathew Gathen and Sophia Resue. They had three children:

• Birdie Wilday (B. 1873, D. April 26, 1897)
• Mary Anna wilday (B. Sept 8, 1874, D. June 18, 1889)
• Morgan David Wilday (B. April 14, 1877, D. Mar 14, 1947)

Occupation

Adam worked as a farm laborer.

Appearance

Adam is said to have been 5'5" tall and 125 lbs with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Military Service

Residence at Enlistment:	Berne
Place of Birth:	Berne, NY
Date of Birth:	7 May 1847
Names of Parents:	John Jost (Wilday) and Anna M. Risues
Place of Birth:	Marital Status
Occupation:	Teamster?
Term of Enlistment:	3 years
Enlistment Date:	8 Feb 1865 or 7th
Enlistment Place:	Albany, NY
Enlistment Rank:	Private
State Served:	New York
Regiment:	91st Infantry.
Company:	Company D and Co W
Muster Out Date:	July 1865
Muster Out Place:	Near Washington, DC

Additional Remarks: Enlisted at age 15!

Sources Used: Ancestry.com, US Civil War Soldiers 1861-1865; 1865 census Berne, Albany Co., NY; Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War; Civil War Pension Records, Ancestry.com; Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York.

Life

In 1850 a year after his birth, Adam Wilday was recorded in the 1850 US Census as living with his parents in Berne surrounded by his father's family. Five years later his family was still living in Berne and their house was described as a log cabin. Adam continued to live with his family in 1860.

On February 8th 1865, Adam enlisted in the 91st Regiment at 15 years of age for 3 years of service. He was discharged in July of 1865 at the end of the war.

After the war in 1866, Adam left NY and went to work in Wisconsin, however he returned to Berne in the summer of 1868. He returned to live with his parents where he was recorded in the 1870 Census during which time he was working as a farm laborer like his father. Shortly after this he married Anna Maria Gathen and by 1873 they had begun a family.

Adam began to have health problems in 1870 and filed for his Civil War pension on May 1, 1870. Apparently he recieved a pension of $12.00 per month for a heart ailment

His wife Anna Maria Gathen died on November 15, 1884 in Berne and was buried at the Beaverdam Cemetery there. His daughter Mary Anna died several years later on June 18, 1889 and was buried at the Episcopal Cemetery in Rensselaerville, Albany County, NY.

Death

Adam died on February 4, 1894 in St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, NY where he was buried at the St. Johnsville Cemetery in Section 4 lot 78. He is the only Wilday buried in that cemetery and his gravestone recorded that he was a member of the GAR and that he was born in 1847 and died in 1894.

Additional Media

Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War|Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War

Sources