By: Mark Holtsberry
William A. Wilson was born in Middleton, Butler County, Ohio, October 28, 1876. The son of Clark Usual, born October 1832 in Ohio and Mary Jane (Seslar) Wilson, born March 7, 1841 in Ohio. They were married August 8, 1861.
In June of 1863, Clark registered for the Civil War draft. By 1880, the Wilson family had seven children, William being the youngest. Clark was a blacksmith. After 1890, the family moved to Antwerp, Ohio.
As the Spanish American War broke out, William A. Wilson, at the age of 22, on May 6, 1898, enlisted into Company L. 1st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into service, May 7, 1898. He served his term of service and was mustered out, October 25, 1898 at Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was discharged from service, February 5, 1899. By 1900, William had moved back home in Antwerp, Ohio. Living with his parents, brother, Oscar, and sister Pearl. She was born February of 1891. By 1910, William was still living with his parents on Wilhelm Street, Antwerp. William and his brother Oscar were day laborers working in Antwerp.
The 1910 census lists William as a widow, but never found record of any marriage. On May 6, 1917, Clark U. Wilson passed away.
On June 5, 1917, William registered for the World War 1 draft. He was listed as 5’8″, medium height, stout build, dark complexion, light blue eyes, brown hair. William was not selected to serve.
He met a gal named Rose Belle Hart. She was born in Hicksville, Ohio, December 14, 1893, the daughter of John W. and Lelia N. Hart.
William and Rosa was married October 6, 1919 in Paulding. By 1920, William and Rosa were living on Canal Street in Antwerp. William was a blacksmith, owning his own shop. On February 11, 1921, a daughter, Bonnie Bell Wilson was born in Paulding.
William passed away April 8, 1925 in Paulding. He was buried in Maumee Cemetery, at that time the section was called, “new section” Lot 72, Grave 1. I cleaned his tombstone about three years ago to take a clear picture.
On March 4, 1927, his wife, Rosa, passed away in Paulding and was buried beside William. The daughter Bonnie went to live with Christopher and Catherine Goshorn on 212 East Daggett Street in Antwerp, an aunt and uncle.
Catherine was an older sister of William. Bonnie was a graduate from Antwerp in 1939. She married a fellow classmate, Edward David McCreary, who served in World War Two. They had a son named David Alexander McCreary, born February 28, 1942.
November 1, 1975, while fishing in Kentucky, Edward drowned. He was buried in Maumee Cemetery. On June 16, 1990, while working as a millwright at General Motors in Defiance, David was killed at the plant working on machinery. He was buried in Ney Cemetery, Ney, Ohio.
Bonnie never remarried and passed away November 16, 1996 in Antwerp. She was buried beside her husband, Edward, in Maumee Cemetery.
…Until Next Time!
