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Note: JULIA WILSON GAGLE
Julia Ann Russell daughter of Eugene and Annie, Russell was born in Clay County, Illinois 3 October 1857. When she was four weeks old her mother died. Her father entrusted her to her aunt Julia A. Dykes. About the age of ten she was placed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. Morton near Jacksonville, Illinois.
On 3 October 1880 she married Rev. Wesley Wilson. The following April they came to Ord. Nebraska where her husband became the first resident pastor of the Methodist Church. Later he became the pastor of the Fairview Church north of Central City in Merrick County. Although the wife of a devoted minister, these times were not without testing so characteristic of young pioneer gospel trailblazers.
Four sons were born to this marriage: Walter H., Charles and twins. Mr. Wilson had injured his spine as a child and was a life long cripple, as a result his life and work in the gospel ministry was cut short by his death, 2 April 1886. One of the twins died two months earlier and the other a month after the father's death.
Mrs. Wilson married John George Gagle of Central City on 3 October 1887. This also being his second marriage there were two sets of children in the new home. Six children were born to this union; the oldest, Bertha Annie, died when one year old, Nellie E. (Davis), David E., William M. and two that died in infancy. With a large family of children she knew long hours of toil and care, often burning the midnight oil to sew or mend. She often watched by the bedside of loved ones fallen ill and so many times she saw the eyelids close forever and the heartbeat stilled.
Blessed with a strong constitution and robust health Julia was spurred ever onward by a devotion to her own loved ones or with the thought of caring for the needs of comforts of neighbors and friends. She cherished a simple faith and nourished a blameless character.
Mr. Gagle died at their home in the College Section on 18 August 1907. Julia continued to live there for a number of years.
For the last thirty years of her life Julia was a member of the Friends Church in Central City, following her son, Walter, who had made the transfer a few years earlier.
Julia's vision failed her some years before her death but it seemed perhaps she had learned to see more clearly with the eye of faith. She died 20 November 1940 in Grand Island. Julia, her first husband, Wesley Wilson and five of her sons, are buried in the Central City Cemetery.
This story was based on a tribute to Julia Wilson Gagle written at the time of her death by her oldest son, Walter Wilson.
Submitted by Nancy Johnson
These are the children of John George and Julia Russell Wilson Gagle
Bertha Ann - born 13 August 1888 in Merrick County, died 13 August 1889, buried Burke Cemetery.
David Edgar - born 5 June 1890 Merrick County, married Laura Bauer, died 11 March 1965, buried Central City Cemetery. Dave and Laura ran Gagle's Station five miles north of Central City for many years.
William Matthias - born 16 September 1895 Merrick County, married Nan Davis 25 August 1920, died 19 April 1955, buried Central City Cemetery.
Nellie Etta - born 5 April 1898 Merrick County, Married Ray Davis 25 August 1920, died 21 January 1922 in childbirth, buried Burke Cemetery.
Infants - one male, one female - no names or birth dates, buried Burke Cemetery.
Compiled by Nancy B. Johnson
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