Wilson Gaylord Deerson

Notes:

Gaylord is buried in Momence Cemetery in Momence, Illinois in the Wilson plot. In the plot is Delia and John Wilson, his parents; John (Jack), his younger brother; and his wife will be buried next to him when she dies.

He was an electrician in partnership with his brother, Wayne after both returned from their duty in the Army Air Corp during World War II. Their business was known as the Wilson Brothers Electrical

He and Dorothy were members of the Grant Park Methodist church. He attended it periodically most of his life.

Gaylord, always the smoker,died of conjestive heart failure and arterialscerosis. He also had cancer of the lungs.

During his life, he was always interested in local history, Indian lore and family genealogy. He collected antiques and especially antique tractors. He also had a big-wheel bicycle at one time which he would ride around town.

Another interest was in antique guns. He and brother, Wayne would often go to the World Champion Muzzleloader Gun Meet in Friendship, Indiana. His brother, Wayne won the title of World Champion several times. Both wore coonskin caps while attending this meet and dressed as Daniel Boone would have.

Gaylord and Dorothy never had children. This was due to complications of mumps as a teenager and rendered him sterile.

Of the four boys, Gaylord was the most talkative. He was very outgoing and loved a good story. He was also an excellant storyteller himself.

Before the war, he and his brothers had a service station at the edge of town (Grant Park), on the curve of the Dixie highway, heading towards Chicago. It also was a restaurant where one could get hamburgers, hotdogs and sandwiches and cold beer. This was sold before both went into the service to one of their friends. It continued for several years after their return.

Gay entered the ST. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee,suffering from lung cancer and conjestive heart failure. He never left there alive.

Dorothy, his widow, grieved for more than 10 years, wanting to die and join him. Twenty years later, she still survives him alone.

His Social Security number was 347-16-3825 issued in Illinois.

Gaylord married Piersma Dorothy Pearl on 03 Nov 1945 in WItchert, Kankakee County, IL. Dorothy was born on 17 Jul 1918 in Chicago, Cook County, (Beverly Hills) IL; died on 05 Feb 2007 in Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL; was buried on 09 Feb 2007 in Momence Protestant Cemetery, Momence, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John was buried in Momence Cemetery, Momence, Illinois. He died suddenly at the age of 55 yrs. 2 mos. 6 days of a heart attack. At one time he was a school teacher, sold real estate for one year and was a farmer. His daughter, Ruby often told the story that he had come out of court as a juror and mentioned to a fellow-juror
"that one never knows when one's time is up." Minutes later, he suffered his fatal heart attack.

Born in the Momence area of Kankakee County, he graduated from Momence High School and went on to Valporaso State Teacher's College in Valporaso, Indiana. He taught one-room schools in Momence and the Grant Park areas for years. He later became a school board member of several schools where his daughter, Ruby later taught. One of the schools was Point School. Ruby also taught at Bebeetown and Clapsaddle Schools.

John and Delia discovered she was pregnant with their first child, Harold and rushed into marriage. Unfortunately, little Harold died almost on his first birthday of spinal meningitus. They buried him in an unmarked grave next to his grandparents, Thomas and Rosella O'Connell, also in Momence Cemetery. His birth and death were not discovered until after the death of both parents when an aunt told Ruby of the child. Because of the "disgrace" of having to get married, it was kept a family secret for over 70 years, unknown to the rest of John and Delia's children.

John was a well-respected citizen of Momence and Grant Park communities.
He and his brother, Theodore owned large farms that were left to them by their father, John W. Wilson (Johannes Olsson). He raised corn and chickens, selling the eggs and meat to the local stores.

They lived in several places; the last one, a house in the town of Grant Park (Kankakee Co.) located on the Dixie Highway, almost across the street from a park.

John married O'Connel Delia Louella on 22 Jan 1902 in Momence, Ganeer Tnshp, Kankakee County, IL. Delia (daughter of O'Connel Thomas and Brown Rosella) was born on 04 Aug 1884 in Beaverville, Iroquois County, IL; died on 27 Feb 1969 in Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL; was buried on 03 Mar 1969 in Momence Protestant Cemetery, Momence, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1900 census, Delia was living in Ganeer, Kankakee County,IL

Delia is buried next to her husband, John Wilson in the Momence Cemetery. Also buried in the Wilson plot are her sons, Gaylord and John (Jack). Her third son, Wayne is buried next to his wife, Elnora (Grimes) Wilson in Union Corners Cemetery, Grant Park, IL that is located on the Dixie Highway between Grant Park and Momence, IL.

Delia and John's first child, Harold died at the age of one years old and is buried in an unmarked grave next to his grandparents, Thomas and Rosella Brown O'Connell. Because Delia was pregnant with Harold before they married, the birth of this child was kept a secret from the rest of the children and wasn't made known to them until after the death of their mother nearly seventy years later.

Her Social Security number is 330-44-4029 issued in IL.

Notes:

Married:
Her obituary says she was married on January 10, 1902.

Notes:

Johannes Olofsson/Olsson changed his name to John Wilhelm Wilson when he left Hulterstad, Scärlof,Kalmar County, Island of Öland, Sweden and arrived in America in the year 1864. Before coming to the United States, he first went to Helsingör, Denmark on 9 February, 1854 possibly, to work as a sailor on the open seas.

He left his parents and siblings in the village where he was born and grew to manhood. They lived in a small home about 300 yards off the main road of Hulterstad, Scarlöf, Number 8, on the southeastern part of the island of Öland, just a few blocks south of the Hulterstad Church where so many of his family have since been buried, including his parents and perhaps even his grandparents.

Johannes was a man of the sea. He used to tell of his voyages, starting at about the age of 14. By the time he left Hulterstad, Scarlöf, Öland, Sweden for Denmark, he was an experienced sailor at the age of 21. He sailed around the world, arriving at such ports as Seattle and San Francisco and those of Asia.

From Denmark, he made his first trip to America, but he returned to Sweden two times, the final trip leaving Sweden on January 1, 1870 with his wife, Bertha Hakanason who was two months pregnant with son, Otto. It could have been this last return to America when he was joined by his brother, Nils and a sister, for they immigrated and settled in Chicago, IL. Later, Nils moved to Boxholm, Boone County, Iowa. John became a naturalized citizen in 1864 according to the 1900 federal census for Ganeer, Kankakee co., IL.

On one of his trips to Sweden, Johannes used the name of Olofsson, which could have been the name he was baptised with. Another time, he used the name of Olsson. To this day, it is not unusual for one to change their name, either using their mother's maiden name or their father's, thus making it difficult to trace family lines.

As one can see by the last names in preceeding generations, a son took the father's first name to be his last and adding a "sson" to it. Thus, Olof Anderson's son was called "Olofsson". Daughters were "Olofsdotter". In the vital records, it would be recorded, if her first name was Marie; Marie Olof with a "Dtr" following as we would abbreviate "Jr." This method of naming is no longer used.

On a visit to Hulterstad, we discovered this wonderful old Hulterstad Church where the cemetery surrounds the building. The original Catholic Church was built in 1200 but all that remains of the original part is the tower or nave. The bell was installed in 1630 and remains the same today. It is in this cemetery that surrounds the church, we discovered many names of Olsson, Olofsson and Anderson. These are more than likely descendants of Olof and Brita Anderson, parents of our Johannes Olofsson/Olsson a.k.a. John W. Wilson.

At the time of our visit in the fall of 1997, the only information we had was an obituary of John W. Wilson who died in Momence, Illinois, an immigrant from Sweden in the mid-1800's. We were also made aware by grandson, Harley Wilson, that Wilson was not his birth name but his "Americanized" name. He remembered the name of Olson. With this information and the sleuthing investigation of our guide, we discovered our John, a.k.a. Johannes had changed his name several times with each voyage to America. Weeks after our return to the United State, a letter arrived from our guide with the information containing the vital records. They were confirmed by a genealogist in the Family History Center Library in Salt Lake City, UT.

The Island of Öland is a very small island, 85 miles in length and 9.9 miles in width and only 180 feet in it highest point, connected now by a bridge to the city of Kalmar on the mainland. It used to be the summer home and private hunting grounds for the King of Sweden so anyone who lived on the island was not allowed to cut down any trees or hunt on the property. Timber for their houses had to come by boat from Kalmar. The Islander would go by boat to Kalmer, look at the house he wanted to buy, tear it down, ship it by boat to the island and rebuild it. This was the standard way one would build.

The house where Johannes lived still stands today with very little modification according to an elderly couple that live near by. The house is said to be about 200 years old. The attached barn is probably 300 or more years old. The roofs have been replaced with metal, corregated roofing.

Down the road is an old windmill, possibly used by the family to grind their grain. It is unknown how much land was owned by the family but the land itself is "hard scrabble" and does not seem suitable for raising of any kind of crop other than sheep.

During the mid-1800's, a famine struck the island because of harsh winters and poor crops in the summer. Perhaps there were other economical problems as well. During that period, the area around Hulterstad lost over 80 % of the people either from starvation or immigration to America; the largest group settling in the Chicago, Illinois area and that of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

With so many people coming to the island in recent years in search of their roots, the minister of the church decided to moved to a nearby town so he would not have to be bothered with their inquiries. The elderly lady we talked to said the minister would slam his door on their faces! The old church records were moved to a larger parish.

There is also an Immigrant's Information Center in Vöxjö on the mainland who specialize in the 1800's immigration to America and other parts of the world.


In the Momence Paper, Momence, Kankakee County, IL Friday, December 23, 1910 issue is the following, including a lovely large picture:

A RESPECTED CITIZEN WHO RECENTLY DIED.

John Wilson was born on the island of Oland, Sweden, April 12, 1833, and died at his home south of Momence, December 7, 1910; at the age of 77 years, 7 months and 25 days.

His boyhood days only were spent with his parents as they were in humble circumstances, and when a youth he was deprived of the benefits of an education and was compelled throughout the following years to fight the hardships in the battle of life against those clad in the armoor of defense, "an education." Scarcely had he attained the age of early manhood when he left a rustic home of his native country and entered the ranks as a sailor, and to gain for himself a reputation and character not to be shadowed by the trials and temptations of a worldly life.

In 1848 he began to sail on the North and Baltic seas, starting as an apprentice and later through his honesty and faithfulness was promoted to chief steward.

In 1854, he set out to sail under the Swedish flag for America for the first time. In 1860, he returned home and later made several trips to America under the American flag. At the time of the Civil War he had many thrilling adventures. He would hold the interest of his friends for hours relating the many incidents and hardships of a sailor's life. One of especial interest was that of escaping the Alabama.

Owing to the lack of space only a few of his adventures can here be mentioned. During the twenty-one years of his sailor's life he sailed five times around the globe, stopping at all the important seaports such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and other ports along that coast, at one time passing Calcutta during the terrible famine, and so numberous were the dead bodies that it was necessary to clear them away with oars in order to land the ship. His ship also stopped at many ports in Africa, and various times passed the Cape of Good Hope with cargoes for the American continent. By so doing, he visited the seaports of San Francisco, Seattle and many others.

The seas are oftimes merciless to the ships, and three times was Mr. Wilson shipwrecked. Once he came to land in a beef barrel, bringing with him a little girl. There was a rope around the barrel. After the waves had washed them ashore, another rope was attached to the barrel and by this means the entire crew was saved, and showed his bravery and heroism.

Concluding his voyages on the seas in 1868, he came to Illinois, purchased a farm northeast of Momence where he spent one year. He then went to Chicago where in 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Hawinson. He then sailed the Great Lakes for a few months, after which he returned to Momence, building his first residence on the south side of the river. Later he purchased a farm 3 1/2 miles southwest of Momence where he resided until 1902 when he devided the farm between his three oldest sons--he moving to his late residence.

To this union, six children were born, of which three survive; Theodore and John W. of this place, and N. G. Wilson of Chicago. In 1888 the Lord saw fit to call the wife and mother home, leaving four small children to their father's care and guidance. Six years later Otto passed to the beyond.

In 1889, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Bertha Larson of Chicago, and to this union two children were born; Freida V. and Oscar L., who, with their mother, survive him.

Mr. Wilson was a kind and loving father, a good neighbor and ever ready to offer his services or advice for the benefit of his family or community. He was a determined man, and to a friend, he was just as faithful and loyal as was Damon to Pythias. Many are the poor and friendless that he has fed and clothed within his gate; others he assisted to the best of his ability to secure and education. he was a man who won the respect and esteem of all who knew him, and had many friends who were deeply grieved to hear of his sudden death.

Besides his immediate family he leaves a brother, N. G. Wilson of Iowa, one sister, Mrs. Benson of Chicago, beside other relatives and a host of friends. The funeral services were held at the residence on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a. m., conducted by Rev. Connor of the M.E. church. Interment in Mt. Airy cemetery.

Among those from abroad who attended the funeral were N. G. Wilson of Boxholm, Iowa, N. G. Wilson and wife of Chicago, and J. R. Wright of Morocco, Indiana.

More on the History of Hulterstad:

Hulterstad is a small coastal town on the southeastern part of the island of Öland , Sweden. Hulterstad is situated at the eastern fringe of the Stora Alvaret, a limestone pavement habitat which hosts a diversity of rare plants and has been designated a World Heritage Site1. Hulterstad is the municipal government center for this district and central records for centuries were kept at the Hulterstad Church. Significant gravefields and a Viking stone burial ship structure are located immediately south of Hulterstad. To the north is located the village of Alby , where a mesolithic village of early human settlement has been found,[2] and to the south is the Ottenby Nature Reserve. Across the alvar to the west is the village of Gettlinge.

Emigranten Populär, 1783-1951 Swedish Emigration Records, 1783-1951 about Lars Johan Olsson
Name: Lars Johan Olsson
Birth Year: abt 1832
Gender: Man (Male)
Place of Origin: Gårby Öland Kalmar Län, Sverige
Destination: San Fransisco
Record Date: 3 dec 1880
Port of Departure: Göteborg
Database Name: EmiHamn
Archive Call Number: 16:499:150
Principal Person: Olsson Lars Johan



The last trip to Sweden and his return was:
John Wilsson
Birth Year: abt 1840
Gender: Man (Male)
Place of Origin: Öland Kalmar Län, Sverige
Destination: San Francisco
Record Date: 21 Nov 1884
Port of Departure: Göteborg Database
Name: EmiHamn
Archive Call Number: 25:645:23295
Principal Person: Wilsson John

Lars married Larson Bertha. Bertha (daughter of Larson) was born on 01 Mar 1851 in Kristianstad, Kristianstad County, Sweden; died on 02 Oct 1930 in Momence, Kankakee County, IL; was buried in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Ganeer, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She came to America in 1874 and lived in Chicago for 15 years.

Notes:

Died at 5:45 P. M. in his home of Chronic Endocarditis. He was a retired farmer. His parents were both from Ireland.
He died at the age of 79 yrs,7 mos. 6 days old and is buried in Momence Cemetery, Momence, Kankakee County, IL.

He is recorded as living in Beaver Township, Iroqois County, IL at the time of the Tax Record's census of 1890. On his death certificate, his wife is listed as Catherine Covan. He is also listed as having been born in Binghamton, Broome County, NY, not Chenango where the census says the family lived.

Thomas married Brown Rosella on 14 Apr 1874 in St. Anne, Kankakee Co., IL. Rosella (daughter of Brown Erasmus Darwin and Loghry Lettice Lorena) was born on 02 Dec 1853 in St. Anne, Kankakee Co., IL; died on 10 Oct 1933 in Momence, Kankakee County, IL; was buried on 13 Oct 1933 in Momence Protestant Cemetery, Momence, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Rosella, as she was called, lived with her husband, Thomas at 125 North Walnut Street in Momence,Illinois. The house was willed to their daughter, Effie O'Connell Moody, wife of Arthur Moody and sister to Delia Louella O'Connell Wilson, my grandmother.

Notes:

Married:
The marriage ceremony was performed by A. C. Kline, a minister of the Gospel.

The marriage ceremony was performed by A. C. Kline, a minister of the Gospel.

Notes:

Olof was a seaman as were his sons.

Olof married Nilsdotter, M.Brita about 1821. M.Brita was born on 11 Dec 1798 in Sweden. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Daniel probably is the Daniel O'Connel who came over on the ship, "Agitator" From Ireland, landing in the port of New York harbor on May 28th, 1841. He was listed as 22 years old and a laborer. John Henry, Captain. The ship left Liverpool, England and lastly Cork, Ireland before sailing to NY. He would have been single at the time so he married Catherine Cavanaugh in NY.

In the 1850 Federal census for the town of Chenango, Broome County, NY, Daniel was living next door to Michael O' Connell, age 40, and his wife, Mary; son, James; Mary Ann; Bridget; and Johanna.

In the 1860 Federal census for the town of Lake, Cook County,with postoffice in Chicago, IL, Daniel is listed as age 40, white male, born in Ireland and could not read or write nor could his wife, Catherine.

The 1880 Federal census lists Daniel as a farmer, age 60 years, living in Pembroke, Kankakee County, IL. Married, white, born in Ireland, as were his parents.

Daniel married Cavanagh Catherine. Catherine (daughter of Cavanaugh Michael and Ann Mary) was born on 01 Apr 1825 in County Cork, Ireland; died on 19 Mar 1896 in St. Anne, Kankakee Co., IL; was buried on 21 Mar 1896 in St. Anne Catholic Cemetery, St. Anne, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Catherine Cavanagh could have come to America at the age of 20 years on the ship, "Sheridan" which left from Liverpool and arrived in the Port of New York on May 7, 1846. The family Identification number is # 113707, Microfilm Series # M237, Roll # 61.

Her name was also spelled Conon and Cavin in church records which was probably short for Cavenaugh. In later census records, we find she could neither read or write nor could her husband, Daniel.

Name: Cath Cavanah
Arrival Date: 7 May 1846
Age: 20
Port of Arrival: New York
Port of Departure: Liverpool
Place of Origin: Ireland
Ship: Sheridan
Family Identification: 113707
Microfilm Serial Number: M237
Microfilm Roll Number: 61

Notes:

Erasmus Darwin left Stillwater, NY early as a youngster with his family. They lived in several different places, including, Ballson Spa, Albany, Auburn and Caniesteo, Steuben Co. and Dresden, Yates County, NY.

He went to live briefly in Ohio, where Letty was living with the Schock family, in-laws of her brother, George. He and Letty were married about 1834 in New York. Their first two daughters were born in New York state.

He and Letty moved their small family to Shawnee, Fountain county, Indiana around 1838 where his third child, Mary, was born. His son, Allen, born in 1844 was his last child born in Indiana.

'Dar' and his familiy finally moved to the state of Illinois and settled in the wilderness area known as St. Anne sometime between 1844 and 1846 where his son, Samuel was born. Dar's brother, Achilles and his wife, Lucy, also came to IL.

An article written in the old book of the county history, 'Kankakee County History' is the following:

"Few of the early settlers or families of Kankakee County are better represented in its second generation both among its relief and active citizens, then that established here by Erasmus Brown and Letty Loughry Brown, the former born in New York in 1808. This worthy couple to whom in early life came the desire to travel West and ally their fortunes with its undeveloped strength, left their native New York state and settled in the Wilderness of what then was St. Anne but now is Pembroke township, Kankakee County. Loneliness and deprivation were their portion for they had little of this world's goods and there were few neighbors to whom they could turn for counsel or sympathy. Nevertheless, they had grit and determination and their farm yielded of its fertility in response to their untiring labor.

With the passing of years their family increased until seven children played around their hearthstone. Of these, Jane was the oldest." We know that eventually there were ten children born to this couple.

Sometime around 1856, Dar and Achilles were joined by their youngest brother, Samuel Right Brown, Jr. and his wife, Sally Ann Coss but wanting to move closer to his inlaws, Sally's sisters and other cousins, Samuel moved north to Algonquin after several years in the Iroquois-Kankakee county area and later to neighboring Cary, McHenry County, IL where he made his final home. His descendants live in that area today.

Erasmus married Loghry Lettice Lorena about 1834 in Oscaloosa, Mahaska County, OH. Lettice (daughter of Loghry Joseph Leander and Santee Mary) was born about 1820 in Cameron, Steuben Co., NY; died on 21 Dec 1893 in St. Anne, Kankakee Co., IL; was buried in Old Brown-Hanen Cemetery four miles east of Witchert in Pembroke Township on the old Brown farm.IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Letty was only 11 yrs old when her father, Joseph Loghry died in 1831. Her mother having died the year before.

A guardian was appointed for her and she was sent to live with Christian Schock and his wife, Catherine and their family. Christian and Catherine were parents of Esther, who was married to George Loghry (Letty's brother) at the time of Joseph's death. Why she was sent to live with them and not her brother is anyone's guess.

In a letter from Virginia Dickey, County Clerk at Bath, Steuben County, NY, she writes that Lettice was born in 1808. However, there was a guardianship appointed for her after her father's death and at the time she was thirteen, two years after his death. Also, according the 1850 census of St. Anne,Iroquois County,Illinois, it lists Letty as being 30 yrs. old and her husband, Erasmus as 42 yrs. old. This would make her birth date 1820.

Erasmus Darwin Brown, Letty's husband, went to live briefly in Ohio, where Letty was living with the Schock family, in-laws of her brother, George. He and Letty were married about 1834. It isn't certain if they were married in NY or Ohio but their first two daughters were born in New York state.

He and Letty moved their small family to Rob Roy, Fountain county, Indiana around 1838 where his third child, Mary, was born. His son, Allen, born in Shawnee, Fountain County, in 1844 was his last child born in Indiana.

'Dar' and his familiy finally moved to the state of Illinois and settled in the wilderness area known as St. Anne sometime between 1844 and 1846 where his son, Samuel was born.

An article written in the old book of the county history, 'Kankakee County History' is the following:

"Few of the early settlers or families of Kankakee County are better represented in its second generation both among its relief and active citizens, then that established here by Erasmus Brown and Letty Loughry Brown, the former born in New York in 1808. This worthy couple to whom in early life came the desire to travel West and ally their fortunes with its undeveloped strength, left their native New York state and settled in the Wilderness of what then was St. Anne but now is Pembroke township, Kankakee County. Loneliness and deprivation were their portion for they had little of this world's goods and there were few neighbors to whom they could turn for counsel or sympathy. Nevertheless, they had grit and determination and their farm yielded of its fertility in response to their untiring labor.

With the passing of years their family increased until seven children played around their hearthstone. Of these, Jane was the oldest." We know that eventually there were ten children born to this couple.