Received the Death Certificate of my great-grandmother, Margaret Wilder Welch, today from North Dakota.  She was the mother of my grandfather, Francis “Frank” Xavier Welch.  His last name was later changed when he was adopted by Margaret’s father, Frank Wilder “Sr.” After a short marriage to Charles Olonzo Welch, Margaret remarried an older man, James M. “Jim” Naylor. Jim was the son of immigrant parents from England, and was almost 28 years older than Margaret.

The Certificate incorrectly notes Margaret’s mother’s name as Julia “Bower.”  It was actually Julia “Barber.”  Margaret’s father, Frank Wilder, was the informant for this certificate. Margaret is listed as a “widow” at the time of her death.  I was not aware of this until studying this certificate.  Jim seems to have passed away between January 14, 1920 (the date of enumeration for the 1920 Census where he is listed in the home) and November 18, 1923 (Margaret’s death).  I will have to go back to the North Dakota Death Index and look for Jim’s name.

Cause of Death is noted as “Carcinoma of the stomach,” and it is indicated that Margaret had this cancer for an estimated 10 years.  An August 5, 1923 operation confirmed the diagnosis.  The operation and/or the surgeon were from Milwaukee.

A scan of the document is attached here.