Wilson John Wilhelm^[1]

1881 - 1936  (55 years)

• Name	Wilson John Wilhelm
  Birth	10 Sep 1881	Momence, Kankakee County, IL   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	16 Nov 1936	Momence, Kankakee County, IL   [1]
  Burial	19 Nov 1936	Momence Cemetery, Momence, Kankakee County, IL   [1]
  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.
  Person ID	I53048	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	10 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Olofsson Lars Johannes,   b. 12 Apr 1833, Hulterstad, Skarlöf, Kalmar County, Island of Öland, Sweden d. 07 Dec 1910, Momence, Kankakee County, IL (Age 77 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Larson Bertha,   b. 01 Mar 1851, Kristianstad, Kristianstad County, Sweden d. 02 Oct 1930, Momence, Kankakee County, IL (Age 79 years)
  Relationship	Stepchild
  Family ID	F24601	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Father	Olofsson Lars Johannes,   b. 12 Apr 1833, Hulterstad, Skarlöf, Kalmar County, Island of Öland, Sweden d. 07 Dec 1910, Momence, Kankakee County, IL (Age 77 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Håkansson Berstran (Bertha),   b. 07 Sep 1839, Sweden d. 27 Nov 1888, Momence, Kankakee County, IL (Age 49 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F24600	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	O'Connel Delia Louella,   b. 04 Aug 1884, Beaverville, Iroquois County, IL d. 27 Feb 1969, Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	22 Jan 1902	Momence, Ganeer Tnshp, Kankakee County, IL   [1]
  	Her obituary says she was married on January 10, 1902.
  Children	1. Wilson Harold,   b. 11 May 1902, Ganeer, Kankakee County, IL d. 05 May 1903, Ganeer, Kankakee County, IL (Age 0 years)  [natural]   2. Wilson Ruby Alice,   b. 16 Jul 1904, Momence, Kankakee County, IL d. 18 Jun 1995, Redlands, San Bernadino County, CA (Age 90 years)  [natural]   3. Wilson Wayne Elwood,   b. 05 Mar 1908, Momence, Kankakee County, IL d. 17 Feb 1985, St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL (Age 76 years)  [natural]   4. Wilson Gaylord Deerson,   b. 17 Oct 1911, Momence, Kankakee County, IL d. 04 Sep 1981, Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL (Age 69 years)  [natural]   5. Wilson John Woodrow,   b. 12 Jun 1915, Momence, Kankakee County, IL d. 05 Feb 1991, Kankakee, Kankakee County, IL (Age 75 years)  [natural]
  Family ID	F24075	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Apr 2024

  
  

• Sources

  [S1397] Merged from BrianFreeman on 01-Jan-13 at 22:11.