My heartfelt gratitude is extended to Jenny White for sending me
this photograph of Byron Wing with his half brother, Milan Wing Smith. Byron is my great-grandfather while Milan is Jenny's great-grandfather.
Byron was the son of Joseph Smith Wing & Rebecca Pierce Davis, he was born November 21, 1852 in Pike County, Illinois. Milan was the son of
Joseph Smith Wing and Signa Lunden Anderson, he was born February 18, 1858 in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
This is the first picture I have ever seen of my great-grandfather and it means a great deal to me. It was largely due to Milan's efforts to know his family that the meeting between brothers and a subsequent picture was even taken. Maybe Byron thought he knew enough about his father or possibly he wanted to forget ever knowing anything at all about his father. The truth of the matter is, Joseph Smith Wing, was never mentioned in my home and myself or my cousins were completely unaware of our family history until I embarked upon the search for my roots. It was completely the opposite with the Smith family. They were very aware of their Wing roots thanks to Milan Wing Smith. He kept the history of his father, Joseph Smith Wing alive and passed the story down through the generations. The story of course was that Joseph Smith Wing used the name Joseph Wing Smith when he married Milan's mother, Signa (Sarah) Lunden Anderson. Anyone who has any further information or cares to contribute photographs, just drop me a line. |