Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

Mason M. and Vinnie (Todd) Wilson, 6 South 49 West



In 1900 Shelby County, Missouri, Elizabeth Todd is widowed, born August 1847 in Missouri, with children MWilliam H. Oct 1871, Bud Sept 1878, Robert A. Jan 1881, Lavinnia June 1883, and Grover C. April 1886.
Elizabeth 1846-1909 is buried in Shelby County, with Robert Alexander Todd 1843-1893.
In 1910 Kit Carson County, Mason M. Wilson is 28, Vinnie 25, both born in Missouri, with Hazel 3 Kansas and Bert 1 Colorado.

Mason claimed two quarters in 6 and 7, 6S 49W in 1914.

In 1920 Kit Carson County, Mason is 38, Vinnie 32, Hazel 13, Bert O. 11, and Harold B. 2.

Grover E. Todd 33 is next door, born in Missouri.

In 1930 Kit Carson County, Mason and Vinnie have daughter Hazel Back 23 and daughter Neva 3.

In 1940 Kit Carson County, Mason is 59, Vinnie 56, with Hazel Back, 33, and her daughter Neva 13 born in Colorado.


Lavina "Vinnie" (Todd) Wilson 1884-1967 is buried in Flagler.
Mason Marion Wilson was born January 7, 1881 in Bethel, Missouri and departed this life on December 22, 1963, at the Nilra Nursing Home in Colorado Springs at the age of 82 years, 11 months and 16 days He was the eldest of eight children born to John Thomas and Willie Ann Wilson. He grew to manhood in Bethel, Missouri, and on Dec 24, 1905 was united in marriage to Vinnie Todd. The ceremony was performed by Rev. G. W. Humphrey of Monroe City, Missouri.
To this union three children were born: Hazel Wilson McCaffrey of Flagler, Colorado, Bert Owen Wilson of Yuma, Colorado, and Harold Basil of Bates City, MO.
While in his early teens Mason made a decision for Christ, was baptized and united with the Shiloh Baptist Church in Shelby County, Missouri at the time when Rev. Jones was the pastor. Upon moving to Colorado, Mason helped to organize the Shiloh Baptist north of Flagler, and became one of the charter members of the church. Mason was a devoted church member and served the church as Sunday School superintendent and as trustee for a number of years.
In 1906 Mason and his wife moved to Norcatur, Kansas and in 1908 they left Kansas to homestead north of Seibert, Colorado. In 1943 they left the homestead and moved into the town of Flagler. He is survived by his loving wife, three children, five grandchildren, seven step grandchildren and seven great grandchildren and 14 step great grandchildren, also two sisters, Lillie Chessie Miller of Monroe City, Missouri, and Lucy Ross of Center, Missouri, two brothers, Jody Welcome Wilson of Canton, Missouri, and Henry Edward Wilson of Hannibal, Missouri, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Mason and Vinnie left Missouri in a covered wagon, with a cow tied behind. They settled in Kansas for a short while then on to Flagler, Colorado, where they homesteaded and build a sod house. They lived the rest of their lives in Kit Carson County, Colorado.

Hazel (Wilson) McCaffrey 1907-1991 is buried in Flagler, with Francis W. 1907-1973.
She was listed as McCaffrey in 1972, as Tubbs in 1976, and McCaffrey in 1991.
Neva (Back) McCaffrey 1926-2013 is buried in Flagler.

Neva Rose (Back) McCaffrey was born on July 13, 1926 to Hazel and William Ernest Back in Flagler. She departed this life on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the age of 86 years old.
Neva was a twin, her twin sister passed away three days after the girls' birth. Neva was the smaller of the twins, but showed will and determination to survive during perilous times. Her strength of will helped her to deal with her parents' divorce at the age of 3, when she was primarily taken care of by her grandparents Lavinia (Todd) Wilson and Mason Wilson. Her mother Hazel worked for other people as a housekeeper to help support her daughter.
She attended grade school at North Flat located 2 miles north of where she would end up raising her family. She was baptized at the age of 8 years old in the Shiloh Baptist Church north of Flagler.
Her mother met a farmer, Francis W. McCaffrey Sr., who had five young boys to raise after their mother Alberta (Preyer) McCaffrey had died. She was a freshman in high school at that time. The oldest of the boys was Francis LeRoy Jr., and by the time they were seniors in high school, they had become sweethearts, and remained so for over 65 years.
June 1, 1946 Francis LeRoy and Neva Rose were married in St. Francis, Kan. She was proud of the fact that she became a teacher and taught school at North Flat, where she had attended grade school.
To this union they were blessed with a son Roger Lynn in 1952 and Vicky Jill in 1958.
She always enjoyed being a wheat farmer, and helping Jr., on the farm. The two of them were rarely apart.
She was a tremendous cook, and anyone who sat at her table never left hungry. She made the best homemade bread and pies in the world. Often rising at dawn to begin washing and ironing clothes for farmhands, she would have at least 2 batches of dough rising before sun up. Nels Thorson, Orlie Crist, Doyle Kier and others can attest to Neva's cooking skills.
One of the greatest roles that Neva undertook was as grandma and eventually great-grandma. Her firstborn grandson, Cory McCaffrey, gave her so much pride and joy, as he undertook the role of carrying on the McCaffrey wheat farm legacy.
Cory, along with his brother Tyler McCaffrey, made her happy by carrying on the family tradition of hard work ethics and unity of family. She had a special love for Ryan Pickard, Vicky's son that endured her entire life – Ryan had a gentle way of "sweet-talking" grandma into anything.
Her granddaughters, Sara McCaffrey and Erin Pickard, were the "roses" in her life. She delighted in buying them the laciest dresses that she could find, and the pinkest.
Neva was devastated by the loss of her only son in 1999. Again, her strong will and capacity for endurance prevailed as she coped with her loss with dignity and grace. She would again be called upon to test this strong will when she developed Alzheimer's. She was the first person to laugh at herself for the inability to remember someone's name and say, "Well, what do you expect? I am almost 80!"
Neva leaves to celebrate her life, her partner and loving husband Jr., her daughter Vicky (Tony) Kosch, grandchildren Cory (Jeannelle), Sara, Tyler (Lauren), Ryan Pickard (Jacinda) and Erin Pickard (Matt). Blessed with great-grandchildren: Samantha, Rachel, Jaxsen, Jacob, Damon, Dylon, Dalilah, Daydon McCaffrey; Beau and Colin Pickard. Also several nieces and nephews along with their families.
Neva was predeceased by her mother Hazel Tubbs, father-in-law Francis McCaffrey, son Roger McCaffrey, brothers-in-law Kenneth McCaffrey, Darrell McCaffrey, Robert McCaffrey, nephews Charles McCaffrey, Larry Schutte.
Friends and family gathered at the Brown and Latimer Funeral Home Thursday, March 28, 2013 to pay their respects.
The family was overwhelmed by the number of friends who attended, to show their love and support for them. The Rev. Ronald Lee offered a prayer of hope and peace.
Friday March 29, 2013 the family and many friends held a committal service at the Flagler Cemetery where the Rev. Robert Strauch, a longtime family friend, officiated.
Some of Neva's dear friends were pallbearers – Kelly Burr, Mike Santala, LeRoy Loutzenhiser, and Orlie Crist.
Honorary pallbearers include all of Jr and Neva's "North Country" farm friends and families, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

(On September 3, 1950, Kenneth McCaffrey and Ethel Tubbs, both of Vona, married in Kit Carson County " husbands DOB 9/1/1932 spouses DOB 11/16/1934 husbands father Frances McCaffrey spouses father Wayne Tubbs witnesses Neva McCaffrey and Francis L. McCaffrey. "

"Funeral for Albert D. Tubbs, 60, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Community Christian Church, Scott City, with the Rev. Kerry Hookstra officiating. Burial will be in Scott County Cemetery, Scott City. Mr. Tubbs died Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at Scott County Hospital in Scott City. He was born May 24, 1942, at Levant, the son of Albert Wayne and Irene Stickel Tubbs. A Scott City resident since March 1969, moving from Burlington, Colo., he was a custom harvester and mechanic. He was a member of Community Christian Church. On Sept. 21, 1963, he married Sherrill R. O'Neal at Flagler, Colo. She survives. He also is survived by three daughters, Lynnette Robinson, Kandi Goodman and Michelle Habiger, all of Scott City; a sister, Ethel McCaffrey of Seibert, Colo.; a sister-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews; and 10 grandchildren. "
)

Funeral Services for: Kenneth McCaffrey Age: 75 Will be held: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 10:00 AM at Seibert Community Center, Seibert, Colorado. Interment in the Seibert Cemetery.


Bert Owen Wilson 1908-1966 is buried in Flagler "Bert Owen was married to Pearl Parks, she was born in 1909 in Iowa. Death and burial unknown. They had a son, Robert Owen Wilson, born 25 May 1930 in Akron, Colorado. He died 15 Nov 1982 in Colorado. Burial unknown.   "
August 18, 1966 - Joes items in the Yuma Pioneer "Mr. and Mrs. Bill Young attended the funeral of Bert Wilson of Flagler Sunday. Mr. Wilson was a cousin of Hazel."
Hazel's grandfather was John T. Wilson 1848-1930 buried in Shelby County, Missouri. Her mother was Lily Chessie Miller of Marion County, Missouri.
Hazel in Monroe County, Missouri in 1930, with parents Wesley F. 39 and Lily C. 38. Willie L. 18, Hazel A. 16, Dorothy P. 14, Verna J. 11, Gladys L. 8, and John W 2.
Hazel Alice (Miller) Young 1912-1992 is buried in Joes, with William Franklin Young 1905-1979.


"Harold B. Wilson, 72, died January 16, 1990, at the Medical Center of Independence, Odessa, Missouri. He was born January 30, 1917, the son of Marion Mason and Lavinna Todd Wilson in Kit Carson County, Colorado.
He had moved from Flagler, Colorado to Bates City in 1951 and to Odessa in 1969.
Wilson was a self employed carpenter, retiring in 1978. He was a Baptist and former member of the Oak Grove Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include two sons, Steve Wilson and William Wilson, of Odessa; four daughters, Betty Emanuel and Janice Scott, Odessa, Debbie Galegor, Pleasant Hill, and Sandy Bailey, Carl Junction; a sister Hazel Tubbs, Flagler, Colorado, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren."


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