His parents	Married c. 1830	Her parents
4GGF James Wiltse	Canada --> MI	4GGM Electa Wiltse
Ancestor 88 (1011000) 7/17/1813 - 8/16/1869	Their ancestral child	Ancestor 89 (1011001) 12/31/1812 - 1/01/1890

James and Electa Wiltse were born in Leeds County, Ontario, Canada. They shared a great-grandfather, Jeremiah Wiltse, making them half 2nd cousins. This is my only known ancestor by the name of Electa. It is commonly misspelled as “Electra” on family trees. Her name means chosen (as in elected). It was a popular girls’ name in 19th century America.

I have seen up to seven children attributed to James and Electa in family trees: In birth order David (b. 1831), Anthony, Case* , Minerva, Hiram (b. 1843), Benoni (dates unknown) and Phebe (dates unknown, and she does not appear in all family trees). The dates show us that James and Electa married as teenagers.

Some of the Ontario villages that appear on family records are: Leeds, where James and Electa were born, Farmersville, where Case was born, and Brockville, where Case was married in 1856. (Make sure the “Northeast” pins are showing).

James Wiltse appears on an 1857 naturalization record from Shiawassee County, Michigan. ¹ As of that year, Hiram was still a minor and the known older children were grown. Case and his new wife Elizabeth joined them as well.

An 1859 land ownership map of Vernon Township, Shiawassee County shows J. Wiltse’s land as the eastern half of the SW quadrant of Section 2. The house is pinpointed on the map, 1/2 mile north of what is today Brown & Bennington.

After James’ death, Electa is found in the 1870 census still living in Vernon Township with her son Hiram. James and Electa are buried in Chalker Cemetery, an abandoned cemetery in Vernon Township. Their FindAGrave pages and the location of their farm and graves are shown below. (Show the “Great Lakes” pins). Electa’s grave shows very interesting dates: she was born on New Year’s Eve and died on New Year’s Day. If you look really closely at James’ headstone, you’ll see the faded symbol of the Masonic Society.

James’ FindAGrave profile

Electa’s FindAGrave profile