Franklin Gardner Willsey, 87 years of age, a resident of the Bemidji vicinity for about 30 years, passed away Sunday afternoon, April 14, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry King in Turtle River township where he had made his home for the past five years. Mr. Willsey, who was more familiarly known as “Cap Willsey” was born July 13, 1841 in Wisconsin. He was a Civil War Veteran.
Funeral services are to be held at the Masonic Temple in Bemidji. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery, also under the direction of the Masonic lodge.
Mr. Willsey homesteaded near Three Island Lake about 30 years ago and for a number of years was engaged in the manufacture of sleighs. He became widely known throughout the vicinity. For the past five years he had made his home with the King family and for two years he had not been able to be about much. Two weeks ago he suffered another stroke and from then on he was unable to recognize anyone.
He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge in Bemidji for many years and was also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Elkanah Commandery, Knights Templar. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, April 16, 1929)
Married June 11, 1865
Franklin Willsey, Homestead Patent, Crookston Land Office, 164.31 acres, T148N- R32W, Sec 18.
On motion by Commissioner Johnson seconded by Commissioner Anderson $290 was appropriated out of the county road and bridge fund to be expended by F. G. Wilsey in building approaches to bridge across Turtle River where the Red lake and Leech lake crosses said river. (Sept 9, 1904)
- G. Wilsey, building bridge across Turtle River, contract $435. 00 (Nov 12, 1904)
Captain Wilsey, well known in this city as “Cap,” came down this morning from his home near Turtle River, and spent the day in the city. Captain Wilsey is one of the pioneers of Beltrami county, having settled on his homestead, on Three Island lake, when there were not many white people in that vicinity. He has “stuck” to his home and has one of the best homesteads in the county. (Jan 9, 1907)
Logging Capt. Wilsey’s Timber.
Dale & Larkin of Turtle River are doing some logging this winter getting out a quantity of
cedar and tamarack They are cutting the timber from the homestead of Captain Wilsey, on
Three Island lake, about four miles west of the village of Turtle River. There is a good “bunch” ot the cedar and tamarack, and they expect to spend the balance of the winter months in cutting and banking the logs. The logs will be dumped on Three Island lake and driven down Turtle river in the spring when the ice goes out. (Jan 5, 1907)
Capt. F. G. Willsey of Turtle River, has been granted a pension for service in the civil war, and will receive $735.68 back pay and being over 70 years of age will receive at least $15 per month from this time on. Capt. Willsey served with honor and distinction throughout the war, and received his commission for meritorious service. He has been a resident of Beltrami county for many years, and his friends throughout the county will be glad to hear that he gets what has been due him for a long time. (Mar 26, 1907)
Captain Willsey, who owns a fine farm on the banks of Three Island Lake, west of Farley, spent yesterday in the city. Mr. Willsey has been doing some logging on his place this winter and has quite a smart “jag” of timber there. He is one of the very oldest settlers in Beltrami county, and he has many interesting stories to tell of the early days in this part of the state. In fact, it is said that his accounts of the early days of Beltrami county are much more worthy of belief than are the weird, wild legends narrated by one J. W. Speelman, discoverer of Indian medicine springs, ex-secretary of the Beltrami County Old Settlers’ association, “Top o’ the World” narrator of true tales, etc., etc., ad lib. (Mar 21, 1908)
Miss Elsie Wilsey, who has been visiting her father, F. G. Wilsey, left Monday for Bemidji where she will visit friends before leaving for St. Louis, Mo., where she will teach the coming school term. (Aug 31, 1917)