Dear Kinfolk,

We have covered the life of Albert J. Anderson and now lets learn more about his wife, Nancy Alveria Wilson.  She was born February 7, 1846, in Washington County, Arkansas. Her parents were James Reed Wilson and Elizabeth C. Pettigrew.  Her mother passed away when Nancy was 8 years old.  The 1860 census indicates that James had moved his family to Palo Pinto, Texas, and  James had a new wife, Nancy Hughes.

Prior to their moving to Texas, it was a very interesting period in Arkansas/Oklahoma outlaw days.   There were many stories of Belle Starr who was in the national limelight as a “Bandit Queen”, “Female Jesse James” and “The Petticoat  Terror of the Plains”.  

Belle Star

 She had several husbands, one being our relative Jim Reed.  Nancy’s father James Reed Wilson and her grandmother Martha Reed  were related to Belle Starr by her marriage to Jim Reed. 

James Reed

When you read Glen Shirley’s book, Belle Starr and Her Times,  you will find many references to the Reeds.  Our late cousin Archie Anderson Brewer,  granddaughter of John Henry Anderson,  related several stories told her by her grandfather John Henry about how “Grandma Reed took care of Belle’s children”.  Still need to do more research on the Belle Starr connection, so I will save that for a future blog.

We know that Nancy was living in Weatherford, Texas in 1865, when she met and married Albert.  In our earlier blogs we have followed their moves from Fort Davis, TX, to La Junta, CO, to Red Moon, OT, to Forsyth, Montana.  From letters written to Albert’s sister  Lucinda we know that they were living in Forsyth, Montana around 1905.  You will recall from a previous blog that Albert traveled back to Oklahoma for his Baptist burial.  No mention  made  of Nancy’s being in Red Moon, when Albert died.

Thanks to Elsie  Johnston’s book,  Laurel’s Story, A Montana Heritage and a newspaper clipping we learn a little more about Nancy’s life after Albert’s death.  Their daughter, Nancy Belle Anderson had married Burt Woodward and lived in Forsyth, Montana.  After Burt  died she and her two-year old son moved to Laurel to join her mother Nancy.  

Handwritting on the picture by granddad Black Bill ..." My sweet mother in her hotel in Laurel Montana"

Together they operated the Yellowstone Hotel, that was a frame building.  In the book they also “operated the Lennox Hotel for many years”.  They took over the Lenox from H.W. Higgins who left Laurel in 1909.

Lenox Hotel

Our great-grandmother lived with her daughter for her last ten years and according to the paper “died in the home of her daughter, Nancy Belle McFadden, on June 12, 1919, at the advanced age of 74 years, four months and five days.  She was an untiring and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church”.

 Have a great weekend,

Jim Lee