Hakan

Family/Spouse: u. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bertha's tombstone is hard to read but the stone is clear she died at age 48 years, 6 months and 20 days. The word Mar. is also decernable but the dates are not. Her name appears on the obalisk as her son, Otto W. Wilson who died on March 9, 1896 at age 23 years, 5 months and 30 days. It is possible her birthdate was June 6, 1840 according to the Momence Progress newspaper. or May 5th 1840, None of which look correct.

Family/Spouse: Olofsson Lars Johannes. Lars (son of Andersson Olof and Nilsdotter, M.Brita) was born on 12 Apr 1833 in Hulterstad, Skarlöf, Kalmar County, Island of Öland, Sweden; died on 07 Dec 1910 in Momence, Kankakee County, IL; was buried in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Ganeer, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Otto, the first born child of Bertha Hawkinson and John W. Wilson (Johannes Olofsson) died at an early age of 23 years, 5 months and 3 days of tuberculosus. In his diary, he wrote that "he was dying and no one cared." I am sure that wasn't the case, knowing how caring the family was. It must have been a very down day for him, knowing he was going to die.

Theodore married Wright Gail on 24 Feb 1904 in Morocco, Newton County, IN. Gail was born on 24 Jun 1882 in Kentland, Newton County, IN; died on 18 Nov 1942 in Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was named after his uncle, Nil Gustav, brother to his father, John W. Wilson

Ned married Hore Harriet Dee on 22 Jun 1903. Harriet was born about 1884 in MO. [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:

He worked with M, O. Weaver Contruction company in Maynard and that is where he met his wife. He was living in Maynard, IA when he died.

Belles-Wright Funeral Home, Fayette, IA. officiated in his funeral service.

Family/Spouse: Pattison Frances Viola. Frances was born on 17 Sep 1909 in Smithfield, Fayette County, IA; died on 25 Dec 1966 in Fayette County, IA; was buried in Dunham Grove Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hubert Donald Clem. Donald was born on 19 Jun 1918 in St. Anne, Kankakee Co., IL; died on 04 Apr 1974 in Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL; was buried in St. Anne Cemetery, St. Anne, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Harold was the first child born of Delia L. O'Connell and John W. Wilson, but it was not known to his brothers and sister until long after the death of his parents that his existance came to light through an elderly aunt, Freida Wilson, half sister of John.

Delia was five months pregnant when she and John married and in those days, unlike today, it was considered highly improper for a young girl to get in that condition before marriage. Why they waited so long is unknown.

Harold's life was very short. His death was, according to the death record, attributed to Perebes spiral meningitis due to hydrocephalis. It was complicated by acute enterils. He suffered with this illness for 2 months and 21 days. He died at 9:05 P.M. Tuesday, May 5, 1903 with Dr. J. V. Lewis of Momence in attendance.

Little Harold is buried next to his uncle, Charles O'Connell and his maternal grandparents, Rosella and Thomas O'Connell in Momence Protestant Cemetery, Momence, IL. As yet, he has an unmarked grave, only denoted by a flat iron marker.

While cleaning out the house where Delia had lived, a white satin burial piece was found that belonged to the casket of little Harold. It must have been removed shortly before his burial.

The death of this little guy surely pained Delia for the rest of her life, for she told none of her children who were born after Harold. The fact that she had to marry, being four months pregnant and the shame she felt must have driven her to keep this family secret.

Ruby married Mortensen Tage on 16 Jan 1932 in Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois. Tage was born on 01 Dec 1908 in Horsens, Vejle County, Denmark; died on 01 Dec 1992 in Spokane, Spokane County, WA; was buried on 26 Jun 1995 in Spokane, Spokane County, WA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wayne was born in Momence, IL, the third child and second son of Delia O'Connell and John Wilson, Jr. He went to one-room country schools and attended Momence High School.

He served in WWII in the Army Air Corp and was stationed at Chenute Field for a time. He was then sent to the Aleutian Islands.

Wayne was always working with his hands...he loved making things. In the service when plastic was first on the market, he made his niece, Sonja, a beautiful clear plastic heart that had a red interior, looking much like tiny veins. He also made himself a false tooth when he had a tooth that needed a crown instead of going to have it fixed by a dentist!

After he was discharged from the service, he returned to Grant Park, married and started an electrical business with his younger brother, Gaylord. They were known for miles around as the Wilson Bros. Electrical Contractors.

His love for making things extended to the making of wonderful, custom guns. These were muzzle-loaders made to exact replicas of days past. Every part of the gun, down to the screws were made by hand. His most prized possession was a muzzle-loader he had made and later willed it to his favorite niece, Sonja Mortensen, daughter of his sister, Ruby. Sonja has since given it to her only son, Raymond Black, to keep it in the family.

Wayne was the quiet one, unlike his siblings. He was serious, thoughtful and also very caring.

He had for sometime, been very ill. The doctor in Grant Park was treating him for a liver ailment. The area under his right lung was swollen. When his nephew, Dr. John Mortensen came to visit him and checked him over, he discovered the real problem was a severe heart condition and he was in heart failure. Wayne was taken immediately to the VA hospital where a pacemaker was implanted just under the skin. His nephew had saved his life for many more years. He regained his energy and strength after years of suffering from this unknown heart condition.

The misdiagnosis would not be the last in this family. The same doctor in Grant Park also misdiagnosed his brother, Jack, a few years later that resulted in his untimely death.

His Social Security number is 354-28-7240 issued in IL.

Wayne married Grimes Elnora on 09 Dec 1945 in Grant Park, Kankakee County, IL. Elnora was born on 28 Jun 1919; died on 27 May 1989 in Her Home in Grant Park, Kankakee County, IL; was buried on 30 May 1989 in Union Corners Cemetery, Grant Park, Kankakee County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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, nicknamed Jack, never married but lived with his widowed mother all her life. After her death, he continued to live in the family home which was a large two-story home in Grant Park, owned by him and his two brothers, Gaylord and Wayne.

Gaylord and Dorothy lived downstairs and Jack and his mother lived in the apartment upstairs. It was fixed into an apartment after Gaylord and Dorothy married so they could have the downstairs part of the house.

Jack entered St. Mary's hospital with a condition thought to be heart failure. It turned out to be a Peptic ulcer that had ulcerated and perferated the wall of his stomach. The doctor who treated him was a foreign doctor from Pakistan and misdiagnosed his condition. This was the second time this doctor had done this to one of the Wilson brothers. The first misdiagnosis was Wayne's condition. He told him he was suffering a liver condition when it was indeed heart failure. This mistake was caught by his nephew, Dr. John Mortensen on a visit from the state of Washington. Wayne was immediately taken to the Veteran's Hospital where he underwent heart surgery and a pacemaker implanted in his chest. Unfortunately, being a small town where most doctors do not want to practice, it is a haven for foreigners who would have a tough time getting into practices in larger cities. Most of the townspeople are left to the mercy of these doctors.

Because of the tragic misdiagnosis, Jack succombed to the infection caused by the perferation to the stomach wall. He was under the impression when he entered the hospital, he would be returning home shortly and begged his niece, Sonja Abate, to take him home. It was just a matter of days, when he passed away.

Jack is buried in the Wilson plot at the Momence Cemetery, Momence, Illinois. Before the (WWII) war, Jack was always the family clown but after returning from the war, he had changed. No longer the family clown, he became a very serious young man.

He worked all his life in a factory in the middle of downtown, Grant Park. He was a PFC US Army, WW II.


Social Security number is 329-07-7311 issued in IL.